Standards

Standards help prioritize, budget time, create vertical and horizontal alignment, etc. They should be specific enough to provide useful alignment, but general enough not to stifle useful innovation. See:

• National Standards
• Local Standards

National Standards

National Science Education Standards

The NSES are comprehensive science standards for K-12, including all aspects of the teaching profession in one integrated document. The concept of climate is dealt with a bit obliquely in the NSES, as one manifestation of the subtopic "Energy in the Earth System". Standards for teaching inquiry (in high and middle grades) are included.

The NSES were developed under the auspices of the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

 

Project 2061 Benchmarks

The Benchmarks are comprehensive science and math content standards, backed up by cognitive science research. "Strands" are used to identify the layers of conceptual development which lead up to student understanding of difficult concepts (see example strand on models). In order to help educators apply the Benchmarks to specific curriculum materials, Project 2061 has developed a detailed materials evaluation procedure. Other aspects of the teaching profession are covered in the separate document Blueprints for Reform.

The concept of climate is featured most strongly in the subtopic of "The Earth". Climate is also an illustration of the common theme of scale; climate change in addition illustrates the common theme of constancy and change. Standards for teaching inquiry are included.

Project 2061 is a service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

 

AP® Course in Environmental Science

This environmental science curriculum has both the convenience and the limitation of being tied to a specific test. Although the course includes a "laboratory and field investigation" component, it does not fully embrace all aspects of inquiry (in particular, formulating questions is not considered a critical element for "laboratory and field investigations").

The AP® curriculum is a product of the College Board.

Local Standards

Participants, please provide pointers to your local standards, if online! (Mail the web address to ESI98P@www.woodrow.org.)

• Chicago Science Standards (thanks to Ruth Rosen for the link).

• Illinois Science Standards (thanks to Ruth Rosen for the link).

• Florida Science Standards for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12 (thanks to Arlene Sweeting for the link).

• Fresno Unified School District's Science Standards (thanks to Dave Williams for the link).

Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program in Environmental Science lpt@www.woodrow.org
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation webmaster@woodrow.org
CN 5281, Princeton NJ 08543-5281 Tel:(609)452-7007 Fax:(609)452-0066