Ohio's Academic Content Standards in Science

By the end of grade 12

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Earth and Space Sciences
Students demonstrate an understanding about how Earth systems and processes interact in the geosphere resulting in the habitability of Earth. This includes demonstrating an understanding of the composition of the Universe, the Solar System and Earth. In addition, it includes understanding the properties and the interconnected nature of Earth's systems, processes that shape Earth and Earth's history. Students also demonstrate an understanding of how the concepts and principles of energy, matter, motion and forces explain Earth systems, the Solar System, and the Universe. Finally, they grasp an understanding of the historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with Earth and space sciences. Indicators for grade 12 1. Explain how scientists obtain information about the universe by using technology to detect electromagnetic radiation that is emitted, reflected or absorbed by stars and other objects. (ORC Resources) 2. Explain how the large-scale motion of objects in the universe is governed by gravitational forces and detected by observing electromagnetic radiation. (ORC Resources) 3. Explain how information about the universe is inferred by understanding that stars and other objects in space emit, reflect or absorb electromagnetic radiation, which we then detect. (ORC Resources) 4. Explain how astronomers infer that the whole universe is expanding by understanding how light seen from distant galaxies has longer apparent wavelengths than comparable light sources close to Earth. (ORC Resources) 5. Investigate how thermal energy transfers in the world's oceans impact physical features (e.g., ice caps, oceanic and atmospheric currents) and weather patterns. (ORC Resources) 6. Describe how scientists estimate how much of a given resource is available on Earth. (ORC Resources)

Life Sciences
Students demonstrate an understanding of how living systems function and how they interact with the physical environment. This includes an understanding of the cycling of matter and flow of energy in living systems. An understanding of the characteristics, structure, and function of cells, of organisms and of living systems are developed as well as a deeper understanding of the principles of heredity, biological evolution, and the diversity and interdependence of life. Students also demonstrate an understanding of different historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with the life sciences. Indicators for grade 12 1. Recognize that information stored in DNA provides the instructions for assembling protein molecules used by the cells that determine the characteristics of the organism. (ORC Resources) 2. Explain why specialized cells/structures are useful to plants and animals (e.g., stoma, phloem, xylem, blood, nerve, muscle, egg and sperm). (ORC Resources) 3. Explain that the Sun is essentially the primary source of energy for life. Plants capture energy by absorbing light and using it to form strong (covalent) chemical bonds between the atoms of carbon-containing (organic) molecules. (ORC Resources) 4. Explain that carbon-containing molecules can be used to assemble larger molecules with biological activity (including proteins, DNA, sugars and fats). In addition, the energy stored in bonds between the atoms (chemical energy) can be used as sources of energy for life processes. (ORC Resources) 5. Examine the inheritance of traits through one or more genes and how a single gene can influence more than one trait. (ORC Resources) 6. Explain how developmental differentiation is regulated through the expression of different genes. (ORC Resources) 7. Relate diversity and adaptation to structures and functions of living organisms at various levels of organization. (ORC Resources) 8. Based on the structure and stability of ecosystems and their nonliving components, predict the biotic and abiotic changes in such systems when disturbed (e.g. introduction of non-native species, climatic change, etc.). (ORC Resources) 9. Explain why and how living systems require a continuous input of energy to maintain their chemical and physical organization. Explain that with death and the cessation of energy input, living systems rapidly disintegrate toward more disorganized states. (ORC Resources) 10. Explain additional components of the evolution theory, including genetic drift, immigration, emigration and mutation. (ORC Resources) 11. Trace the historical development of a biological theory or idea (e.g., genetics, cytology and germ theory). (ORC Resources) 12. Describe advances in life sciences that have important, long-lasting effects on science and society (e.g., biotechnology). (ORC Resources)

Physical Sciences
Students demonstrate an understanding of the composition of physical systems and the concepts and principles that describe and predict physical interactions and events in the natural world. This includes demonstrating an understanding of the structure and properties of matter, the properties of materials and objects, chemical reactions and the conservation of matter. In addition, it includes understanding the nature, transfer and conservation of energy, as well as motion and the forces affecting motion, the nature of waves and interactions of matter and energy. Students also demonstrate an understanding of the historical perspectives, scientific approaches and emerging scientific issues associated with the physical sciences. Indicators for grade 12 1. Explain how atoms join with one another in various combinations in distinct molecules or in repeating crystal patterns. (ORC Resources) 2. Describe how a physical, chemical or ecological system in equilibrium may return to the same state of equilibrium if the disturbances it experiences are small. Large disturbances may cause it to escape that equilibrium and eventually settle into some other state of equilibrium. (ORC Resources) 3. Explain how all matter tends toward more disorganized states and describe real world examples (e.g., erosion of rocks, expansion of the universe). (ORC Resources) 4. Recognize that at low temperatures some materials become superconducting and offer little or no resistance to the flow of electrons. (ORC Resources) 5. Use and apply the laws of motion to analyze, describe and predict the effects of forces on the motions of objects mathematically. (ORC Resources) 6. Recognize that the nuclear forces that hold the nucleus of an atom together, at nuclear distances, are stronger than the electric forces that would make it fly apart. (ORC Resources) 7. Recognize that nuclear forces are much stronger than electromagnetic forces, and electromagnetic forces are vastly stronger than gravitational forces. The strength of the nuclear forces explains why greater amounts of energy are released from nuclear reactions (e.g., from atomic and hydrogen bombs and in the Sun and other stars). (ORC Resources) 8. Describe how the observed wavelength of a wave depends upon the relative motion of the source and the observer (Doppler effect). If either is moving towards the other, the observed wavelength is shorter; if either is moving away, the observed wavelength is longer (e.g., weather radar, bat echoes, police radar). (ORC Resources) 9. Describe how gravitational forces act between all masses and always create a force of attraction. Recognize that the strength of the force is proportional to the masses and weakens rapidly with increasing distance between them. (ORC Resources) 10. Explain the characteristics of isotopes. The nucleus of radioactive isotopes is unstable and spontaneously decays emitting particles and/or wavelike radiation. It cannot be predicted exactly when, if ever, an unstable nucleus will decay, but a large group of identical nuclei decay at a predictable rate. (ORC Resources) 11. Use the predictability of decay rates and the concept of half-life to explain how radioactive substances can be used in estimating the age of materials. (ORC Resources) 12. Describe how different atomic energy levels are associated with the electron configurations of atoms and electron configurations (and/or conformations) of molecules. (ORC Resources) 13. Explain how atoms and molecules can gain or lose energy in particular discrete amounts (quanta or packets); therefore they can only absorb or emit light at the wavelengths corresponding to these amounts. (ORC Resources) 14. Use historical examples to explain how new ideas are limited by the context in which they are conceived; are often initially rejected by the scientific establishment; sometimes spring from unexpected findings; and usually grow slowly through contributions from many different investigators (e.g., nuclear energy, quantum theory, theory of relativity). (ORC Resources) 15. Describe concepts/ideas in physical sciences that have important, long-lasting effects on science and society (e.g., quantum theory, theory of relativity, age of the universe). (ORC Resources)

Science and Technology
Students should recognize that science and technology are interconnected and that using technology involves assessment of the benefits, risks, and costs. Students should build scientific and technological knowledge, as well as the skill required to design and construct devices. In addition, they should develop the processes to solve problems and to understand that problems may be solved in several ways. Indicators for grade 12 1. Explain how science often advances with the introduction of new technologies and how solving technological problems often results in new scientific knowledge. (ORC Resources) 2. Describe how new technologies often extend the current levels of scientific understanding and introduce new areas of research. (ORC Resources) 3. Research how scientific inquiry is driven by the desire to understand the natural world and how technological design is driven by the need to meet human needs and solve human problems. (ORC Resources) 4. Explain why basic concepts and principles of science and technology should be a part of active debate about the economics, policies, politics and ethics of various science-related and technology-related challenges. (ORC Resources)

Scientific Inquiry
Students develop scientific habits of mind as they use the processes of scientific inquiry to ask valid questions, and to gather and analyze information. They understand how to develop hypotheses and make predictions. They are able to reflect on scientific practices as they develop plans of action to create and evaluate a variety of conclusions. Students are also able to demonstrate the ability to communicate their findings to others. Indicators for grade 12 1. Formulate testable hypotheses. Develop and explain the appropriate procedures, controls and variables (dependent and independent) in scientific experimentation. (ORC Resources) 2. Derive simple mathematical relationships that have predictive power from experimental data (e.g., derive an equation from a graph and vice versa, determine whether a linear or exponential relationship exists among the data in a table). (ORC Resources) 3. Research and apply appropriate safety precautions when designing and/or conducting scientific investigations (e.g., OSHA, MSDS, eyewash, goggles, ventilation). (ORC Resources) 4. Create and clarify the method, procedures, controls and variables in complex scientific investigations. (ORC Resources) 5. Use appropriate summary statistics to analyze and describe data. (ORC Resources)

Scientific Ways of Knowing
Students realize that the current body of scientific knowledge must be based on evidence, be predictive, logical, subject to modification, and limited to the natural world. This includes demonstrating an understanding that scientific knowledge grows and advances as new evidence is discovered to support or modify existing theories, as well as to encourage the development of new theories. Students are able to reflect on ethical scientific practices and demonstrate an understanding of how the current body of scientific knowledge reflects the historical and cultural contributions of women and men who provide us with a more reliable and comprehensive understanding of the natural world. Indicators for grade 12 1. Give examples that show how science is a social endeavor in which scientists share their knowledge with the expectation that it will be challenged continuously by the scientific community and others. (ORC Resources) 2. Evaluate scientific investigations by reviewing current scientific knowledge and the experimental procedures used, examining the evidence, identifying faulty reasoning, pointing out statements that go beyond the evidence and suggesting alternative explanations for the same observations. (ORC Resources) 3. Select a scientific model, concept or theory and explain how it has been revised over time based on new knowledge, perceptions or technology. (ORC Resources) 4. Analyze a set of data to derive a principle and then apply that principle to a similar phenomenon (e.g., predator-prey relationships, properties of semiconductors). (ORC Resources) 5. Describe how individuals and teams contribute to science and engineering at different levels of complexity (e.g., an individual may conduct basic field studies, hundreds of people may work together on major scientific questions or technical problem). (ORC Resources) 6. Explain that scientists may develop and apply ethical tests to evaluate the consequences of their research when appropriate. (ORC Resources) 7. Describe the current and historical contributions of diverse peoples and cultures to science and technology and the scarcity and inaccessibility of information on some of these contributions. (ORC Resources) 8. Recognize that individuals and society must decide on proposals involving new research and the introduction of new technologies into society. Decisions involve assessment of alternatives, risks, costs and benefits and consideration of who benefits and who suffers, who pays and gains, and what the risks are and who bears them. (ORC Resources) 9. Recognize the appropriateness and value of basic questions "What can happen?" "What are the odds?" and "How do scientists and engineers know what will happen?" (ORC Resources) 10. Recognize that social issues and challenges can affect progress in science and technology. (e.g., Funding priorities for specific health problems serve as examples of ways that social issues influence science and technology.) (ORC Resources) 11. Research how advances in scientific knowledge have impacted society on a local, national or global level. (ORC Resources)