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The following identifies what disciplinary core ideas (DCIs) are introduced at each grade level/content area for grades K-12
- Concepts are divided into three domains: Physical Sciences (PS), Life Science (LS), and Earth & Space Sciences (ESS). Click on each domain to see K-12 vertical alignment. The grade level/content areas that include each domain in their curriculum is noted.
- Each domain is further subdivided into topics (ex: From Molecules to Organisms). Click on each topic to see the specific DCIs addressed at each grade level.
Life Sciences (LS) - K-8, Biology, Environmental Science
LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structure & Processes
- LS1A: Structure & Function
- LS1B: Growth & Development of Organisms
- LS1C: Organization for Matter & Energy Flow in Organisms
- LS1D: Information Processing
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, & Dynamics
- LS2A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- LS2B: Cycles of Matter & Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
- LS2C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, & Resilience
- LS2D: Social Interactions & Group Behavior
LS3: Heredity: Inheritance & Variation of Traits
- LS3A: Inheritance of Traits
- LS3B: Variation of Traits
LS4: Biological Unity & Diversity
- LS4A: Evidence of Common Ancestry & Diversity
- LS4B: Natural Selection
- LS4C: Adaptation
- LS4D: Biodiversity & Humans
Physical Sciences (PS) - K-8, Physical Science, Chemistry, Physics
PS1: Matter & Its Interactions
- PS1A: Structure & Properties of Matter
- PS1B: Chemical Reactions
- PS1C: Nuclear Processes
PS2: Motion & Stability: Forces & Interactions
- PS2A: Forces & Motion
- PS2B: Types of Interactions
PS3: Energy
- PS3A: Definitions of Energy
- PS3B: Conservation of Energy & Transfer
- PS3C: Relationships between Energy & Forces
- PS3D: Energy in Chemical Processes & Everyday Life
PS4: Waves & Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer
- PS4A: Wave Properties
- PS4B: Electromagnetic Radiation
- PS4C: Information Technologies & Instrumentation
Earth & Space Sciences (ESS) - K-8, Astronomy, Environmental Science
ESS1: Earth's Place in the Universe
- ESS1A: The Universe & Its Stars
- ESS1B: Earth & the Solar System
- ESS1C: The History of the Planet Earth
ESS2: Earth's Systems
- ESS2A: Earth's Materials & Systems
- ESS2B: Plate Tectonics & Large-Scale System Interactions
- ESS2C: The Roles of Water in the Earth's Surface Processes
- ESS2D: Weather & Climate
- ESS2E: Biogeology
ESS3: Earth & Human Activity
- ESS3A: Natural Resources
- ESS3B: Natural Hazards
- ESS3C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems