Elementary Science Instruction crosswalk
Red indicates not currently taught in this grade
Kindergarten
Inquiry
Physical Science
Earth & Space Science
Life Science
Current Region 14
Demonstrates inquiry through
participating in
experiments/activities
Describes and sorts objects
based on properties of matter
Describes changes in seasonal
weather and how it affects our
lives
Explains the differences between
living and nonliving things
Engineering/Science & Tech in
Society
Next Gen Science Standards
Energy: warming of earth’s
materials
Motion and Stability-Forces:
pushing and pulling 
Weather: patterns and
variations, forecasting, severe
weather
What do plants and animals
need to survive
Developing a new or improved
object or tool
Grade 1
Inquiry
Physical Science
Earth & Space Science
Life Science
Current Region 14
Engages in science activities and
discussions
Makes accurate observations
Identifies and describes states
and properties of matter  
Describes the apparent
movement of the sun and
shadows over time 
Describes the changes living
things undergo in their life cycles
Describes how living things use
their structures and behaviors to
meet their basic needs
Engineering/Science & Tech in
Society
Next Gen Science Standards
Sound and light waves 
Patterns of the sun, moon, and
stars 
Structure and process in survival
Heredity and inheritance of traits
Developing a new or improved
object or tool
Grade 2
Inquiry
Current Region 14
Makes observations and asks
questions about topics of inquiry
Next Gen Science Standards
Makes predictions based on
observed patterns
Physical Science
Describes differences in
properties of matter 
Describes and sorts types of soil
based on their properties
Classifies foods into groups
Describes plant parts, functions
and life cycles
Structures and properties of
matter 
History of the planet Earthforces that shape the earth
Interdependent relationships in
ecosystems-light and water
Biodiversity
Developing a new or improved
object or tool
Current Region 14
Uses the scientific method to
conduct investigations
Classifies, identifies, and
describes properties of matter 
Describes how different types of
rocks are formed and identifies
them based on their
classification 
Next Gen Science Standards
Life Science
Understand characteristics of
biomes
Engineering/Science & Tech in
Society
Describes how earth materials
can be conserved by
reducing/reusing/recycling
Social interactions and group
behavior
Heredity and inheritance of traits
Simple design problems 
Earth & Space Science
Life Science
Engineering/Science & Tech in
Society
Grade 3
Inquiry
Physical Science
Earth & Space Science
Forces and motion 
Weather and climate
Natural hazards, minimizing
impact
Grade 4
Inquiry
Physical Science
Current Region 14
Uses the scientific method to
design and conduct
investigations
Describes how an electric circuit
is made 
Describes the properties of
magnets 
Describes how electrical currents
and magnets can exert a force
on each other 
Describes the effects of force on
Next Gen Science Standards
Conservation of energy and
energy transfer  
Wave properties
Earth & Space Science
Life Science
objects to change position and
motion 
Describes the water cycle and
how water shapes the Earth's
surface
Describes how animals adapt to
various environments
Describes how all living
organisms depend on living and
nonliving features of the
environment to survive
including food chains/food
pyramids
History of planet Earth-rock
formations and fossils 
Weathering and erosion, plate
tectonics
Energy and fuels
Internal and external structures
for survival
Simple design problems 
Engineering/Science & Tech in
Society
Grade 5
Inquiry
Physical Science
Earth & Space Science
Life Science
Engineering/Science & Tech in
Society
 aligns with PLTW modules
 aligns with EiE units
Current Region 14
Uses the scientific method to
design and conduct
investigations
Communicates results of
investigations
Describes how sound is
produced, transmitted and
changed  
Describes how light can be
transmitted, reflected, refracted,
and absorbed 
Understands what causes the
cycles of day/night, moon
phases, and seasons
Describes the structures and
functions of human senses
Next Gen Science Standards
Structures and properties of
matter-atoms, chemical
reactions transfer
Energy flow in organisms
transfer
The sun and our solar system
Geosphere, hydrosphere,
biosphere, and atmosphere
Human impacts on earth
systems
Plant nutrition
Cycles of matter and energy in
ecosystems
Simple design problems 