Science Standards Grade 12
| A. SCIENCE CONNECTIONS Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will understand that among the science disciplines, there are unifying themes: systems, order, organization, and interactions; evidence, models, and explanations; constancy, change, and measurement; evolution, equilibrium, and energy; and form and function. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will: A.12.1 Apply* the underlying themes* of science to develop defensible visions of the future A.12.2 Show* how conflicting assumptions about science themes* lead to different opinions and decisions about evolution*, health, population, longevity, education, and use of resources, and show* how these opinions and decisions have diverse effects on an individual, a community, and a country, both now and in the future A.12.3 Give examples that show* how partial systems*, models*, and explanations* are used to give quick and reasonable solutions that are accurate enough for basic needs A.12.4 Construct* arguments that show* how conflicting models* and explanations* of events can start with similar evidence* A.12.5 Show* how the ideas and themes* of science can be used to make real-life decisions about careers, work places, life-styles, and use of resources A.12.6 Identify* and replace inaccurate personal models* and explanations* of science-related phenomena using evidence* learned or discovered A.12.7 Re-examine the evidence* and reasoning that led to conclusions drawn from investigations*, using the science themes* B. NATURE OF SCIENCE Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will understand that science is ongoing and inventive, and that scientific understandings have changed over time as new evidence is found. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will: B.12.1 Show* how cultures and individuals have contributed to the development of major ideas in the earth and space, life and environmental, and physical sciences B.12.2 Identify* the cultural conditions that are usually present during great periods of discovery, scientific development, and invention B.12.3 Relate* the major themes* of science to human progress in understanding science and the world B.12.4 Show* how basic research and applied research contribute to new discoveries, inventions, and applications B.12.5 Explain* how science is based on assumptions about the natural world and themes* that describe the natural world
C. SCIENCE INQUIRY: Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will investigate questions using scientific methods and tools, revise their personal understanding to accommodate knowledge, and communicate these understandings to others. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will: C.12.1 When studying science content, ask questions suggested by current social issues, scientific literature, and observations* of phenomena; build hypotheses that might answer some of these questions; design possible investigations*; and describe results that might emerge from such investigations C.12.2 Identify* issues from an area of science study, write questions that could be investigated*, review previous research on these questions, and design and conduct responsible and safe investigations to help answer the questions C.12.3 Evaluate* the data collected during an investigation*, critique the data-collection procedures and results, and suggest ways to make any needed improvements C.12.4 During investigations*, choose the best data-collection procedures and materials available, use them competently, and calculate the degree of precision of the resulting data C.12.5 Use the explanations* and models* found in the earth and space, life and environmental, and physical sciences to develop likely explanations* for the results of their investigations* C.12.6 Present the results of investigations* to groups concerned with the issues, explaining* the meaning and implications of the results, and answering questions in terms the audience can understand C.12.7 Evaluate* articles and reports in the popular press, in scientific journals, on television, and on the Internet, using criteria related to accuracy, degree of error, sampling, treatment of data, and other standards of experimental design
D. PHYSICAL SCIENCE Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will demonstrate an understanding of the physical and chemical properties of matter, the forms and properties of energy, and the ways in which matter and energy interact. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will:
D.12.1 Describe* atomic structure and the properties of atoms, molecules, and matter during physical and chemical interactions* D.12.2 Explain* the forces that hold the atom together and illustrate* how nuclear interactions* change the atom D.12.3 Explain* exchanges of energy* in chemical interactions* and exchange of mass and energy in atomic/nuclear reactions
D.12.4 Explain* how substances, both simple and complex, interact* with one another to produce new substances D.12.5 Identify* patterns in chemical and physical properties and use them to predict* likely chemical and physical changes and interactions D.12.6 Through investigations*, identify* the types of chemical interactions*, including endothermic, exothermic, oxidation, photosynthesis, and acid/base reactions
D.12.7 Qualitatively and quantitatively analyze* changes in the motion of objects and the forces that act on them and represent analytical data both algebraically and graphically D.12.8 Understand* the forces of gravitation, the electromagnetic force, intermolecular force, and explain* their impact on the universal system D.12.9 Describe* models* of light, heat, and sound and through investigations* describe* similarities and differences in the way these energy* forms behave
D.12.10 Using the science themes*, illustrate* the law of conservation of energy* during chemical and nuclear reactions
D.12.11 Using the science themes*, explain* common occurrences in the physical world D.12.12 Using the science themes* and knowledge of chemical, physical, atomic, and nuclear interactions*, explain* changes in materials, living things, earth’s features, and stars
E. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will demonstrate an understanding of the structure and systems of the earth and other bodies in the universe and their interactions. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will:
E. 12.1 Using the science themes*, distinguish between internal energies* (decay of radioactive isotopes, gravity) and external energies (sun) in the earth’s systems and show* how these sources of energy have an impact on those systems
E.12.2 Analyze* the geochemical and physical cycles of the earth and use them to describe* movements of matter
E.12.3 Using the science themes*, describe* theories of the origins and evolution* of the universe and solar system, including the earth system* as a part of the solar system, and relate* these theories and their implications to geologic time on the earth E.12.4 Analyze* the benefits, costs, and limitations of past, present, and projected use of resources and technology and explain* the consequences to the environment
E.12.5 Using the science themes*, understand* that the origin of the universe is not completely understood, but that there are current ideas in science that attempt to explain its origin
F. LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics and structures of living things, the processes of life, and how living things interact with one another and their environment. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will:
F.12.1 Evaluate* the normal structures and the general and special functions* of cells in single-celled and multiple-celled organisms F.12.2 Understand* how cells differentiate and how cells are regulated
F.12.3 Explain* current scientific ideas and information about the molecular and genetic basis of heredity F.12.4 State the relationships between functions* of the cell and functions of the organism as related to genetics and heredity
F.12.5 Understand* the theory of evolution*, natural selection, and biological classification F.12.6 Using concepts of evolution* and heredity, account for changes* in species and the diversity of species, include the influence of these changes on science, e.g., breeding of plants or animals
F.12.7 Investigate* how organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems F.12.8 Using the science themes*, infer* changes in ecosystems prompted by the introduction of new species, environmental conditions, chemicals, and air, water, or earth pollution
F.12.9 Using the science themes*, investigate* energy* systems* (related to food chains) to show* how energy is stored in food (plants and animals) and how energy is released by digestion and metabolism F.12.10 Understand* the impact of energy* on organisms in living systems* F.12.11 Investigate* how the complexity and organization* of organisms accommodates the need for obtaining, transforming, transporting, releasing, and eliminating the matter and energy* used to sustain an organism
F.12.12 Trace how the sensory and nervous systems* of various organisms react to the internal and external environment and transmit survival or learning stimuli to cause changes in behavior or responses
Content Standard: Students in Wisconsin will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between science and technology and the ways in which that relationship influences human activities. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will: G.12.1 Identify* personal interests in science and technology; account for implications that these interests might have for future education, and options to be considered G.12.2 Design, build, evaluate, and revise models* and explanations related to the earth and space, life and environmental, and physical sciences G.12.3 Analyze* the costs, benefits, or problems resulting from a scientific or technological innovation, including implications for the individual and the community G.12.4 Show* how a major scientific or technological change has had an impact on work, leisure, or the home G.12.5 Choose a specific problem in our society, identify* alternative scientific or technological solutions to that problem and argue its merits
H. SCIENCE IN SOCIAL AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES Content Standard Students in Wisconsin will use scientific information and skills to make decisions about themselves, Wisconsin, and the world in which they live. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: By the end of grade 12 students will: H.12.1 Using the science themes* and knowledge of the earth and space, life and environmental, and physical sciences, analyze* the costs, risks, benefits, and consequences of a proposal concerning resource management in the community and determine the potential impact of the proposal on life in the community and the region H.12.2 Evaluate* proposed policy recommendations (local, state, and/or national) in science and technology for validity, evidence, reasoning, and implications, both short and long term H.12.3 Show* how policy decisions in science depend on many factors, including social values, ethics, beliefs, time-frames, and considerations of science and technology H.12.4 Advocate a solution or combination of solutions to a problem in science or technology H.12.5 Investigate* how current plans or proposals concerning resource management, scientific knowledge, or technological development will have an impact on the environment, ecology, and quality of life in a community or region H.12.6 Evaluate* data and sources of information when using scientific information to make decisions H.12.7 When making decisions, construct a plan that includes the use of current scientific knowledge and scientific reasoning
Standards developed by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction |
02/27/06 res
| River Valley High School | 660 Varsity Blvd. | Spring Green, WI 53588 | 608-588-2554 |