Level
Assessments
MeetingMinimalCriteria
Grade6
•UseMiddleSchoolScience
MinimumCriteria
th
•5 Gr.FCAT2.0/S.S.A.Scores
•TeacherObservations
Level3oraboveonthe5 GradeF.C.A.T.2.0/S.S.A.Scienceassessment.
7outof11inTheNatureofScienceandmeetingexpectationinthefollowingthreeareas:
7outof11inEarth/Space;3outof5inPhysicalScience;4outof7inLifeScience
**TeacherRecommendations
Grade7
•UseMiddleSchoolScience
MinimumCriteria
•TeacherObservations
6outof10inTheNatureofScienceandmeetingexpectationinthefollowingthreeareas:
5outof7inEarth/Space;4outof7inPhysicalScience;6outof10inLifeScience
**TeacherRecommendations
Grade8
•UseMiddleSchoolScience
MinimumCriteria
•FCAT2.0/S.S.A.Scores
•TeacherObservations
Grade9
••PerformanceonStandardsbasedon
StudentData
th
•8 Gr.FCAT2.0/S.S.A.Scores
••PerformanceonStandardsbasedon
StudentData
8outof12inTheNatureofScienceandmeetingexpectationinthefollowingthreeareas:
7outof12inEarth/Space;8outof12inPhysicalScience;3outof4inLifeScience
**TeacherRecommendations
th
*8 GradeFCAT2.0Scoresaboveascalescoreof202
Proficiencyon70%ofstandardsidentifiedonstatecoursedescription
**TeacherRecommendations
Grade10
Grade11
•PerformanceonStandardsbasedon
StudentData
Grade12
••PerformanceonStandardsbasedon
StudentData
th
Proficiencyon70%ofstandardsidentifiedonstatecoursedescription
StudentsthattookBiologyinthepreviousyearsuccessfullycompletedtheBiology1courserequirementsasidentifiedby
theircohortrequirements.
**TeacherRecommendations
Proficiencyon70%ofstandardsidentifiedonstatecoursedescription
**TeacherRecommendations
**TeacherRecommendations
*AchievementlevelsbasedonFCAT/S.S.A.ScienceEquivalentScores.Scoresshouldbereviewedbutshouldnotbetheonlydeterminingfactor.Achievement
LevelDescriptions(ALDs)outlinethespecificstudentexpectationsateachgradeandsubjectforeachofthefiveAchievementLevels.TheFCAT2.0/S.S.A.ALDs
may be accessed at http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/3/urlt/sciencegrade8.pdf, and the Biology EOC assessment ALDs may be accessed at
http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/3/urlt/aldsbioeoca.pdf.
** Teacher recommendations must always be considered when evaluating student progress. Additional criteria may be considered if the above data is not clear or
has mixed indicators (Previous science test scores or classroom performance). The expectation is that The Nature of Science will be emphasized throughout the
year and Earth/Space, Physical Science, and Life Science standards will be taught each year as defined in curriculum guides.
PascoCountySchoolsScience-NGSSS EOY2016/2017
Pasco County Middle School Science Criteria-NGSSS
Use for PMP criteria determination
SixthGrade
*Meetingminimalcriteriashouldbedeterminedbasedonthesuccessfulapplicationofthefollowingbenchmarks.
Bodyof
Knowledge
Natureof
Science
*7outof11
Earth/
Space
*7outof
11
Physical
Science
*3outof5
LifeScience
*4outof7
Standard
Benchmark
SC.6.N.1.2
Defineaproblemfromthesixthgradecurriculum,useappropriatereferencematerialstosupportscientificunderstanding,planandcarryoutscientificinvestigationofvarioustypes,suchassystematic
observationsorexperiments,identifyvariables,collectandorganizedata,interpretdataincharts,tables,andgraphics,analyzeinformation,makepredictions,anddefendconclusions.
Explainwhyscientificinvestigationsshouldbereplicable.
SC.6.N.1.3
Explainthedifferencebetweenanexperimentandothertypesofscientificinvestigation,andexplaintherelativebenefitsandlimitationsofeach.
SC.6.N.1.4
Discuss,compare,andnegotiatemethodsused,resultsobtained,andexplanationsamonggroupsofstudentsconductingthesameinvestigation.
SC.6.N.2.1
Distinguishsciencefromotheractivitiesinvolvingthought.
SC.6.N.2.2
Explainthatscientificknowledgeisdurablebecauseitisopentochangeasnewevidenceorinterpretationsareencountered.
SC.6.N.2.3
Recognizethatscientistswhomakecontributions
SC.6.N.3.1
Recognizeandexplainthatascientifictheoryisawell-supportedandwidelyacceptedexplanationofnatureandisnotsimplyaclaimposedbyanindividual.Thus,theuseofthetermtheoryinscienceisvery
differentthanhowitisusedineverydaylife.
SC.6.N.1.1
SC.6.N.3.2
SC.6.N.3.3
SC.6.N.3.4
Recognizeandexplainthatascientificlawisadescriptionofaspecificrelationshipundergivenconditionsinthenaturalworld.Thus,scientificlawsaredifferentfromsocietallaws.
SC.6.E.6.1
DescribeandgiveexamplesofwaysinwhichEarth'ssurfaceisbuiltupandtorndownbyphysicalandchemicalweathering,erosion,anddeposition.
SC.6.E.6.2
RecognizethatthereareavarietyofdifferentlandformsonEarth'ssurfacesuchascoastlines,dunes,rivers,mountains,glaciers,deltas,andlakesandrelatetheselandformsastheyapplytoFlorida.
SC.6.E.7.1
Differentiateamongradiation,conduction,andconvection,thethreemechanismsbywhichheatistransferredthroughEarth'ssystem.
SC.6.E.7.2
Investigateandapplyhowthecyclingofwaterbetweentheatmosphereandhydrospherehasaneffectonweatherpatternsandclimate.
SC.6.E.7.3
SC.6.E.7.4
SC.6.E.7.5
SC.6.E.7.6
SC.6.E.7.7
SC.6.E.7.8
SC.6.E.7.9
SC.6.P.11.1
SC.6.P.12.1
SC.6.P.13.1
SC.6.P.13.2
SC.6.P.13.3
SC.6.L.14.1
Describehowglobalpatternssuchasthejetstreamandoceancurrentsinfluencelocalweatherinmeasurabletermssuchastemperature,airpressure,winddirectionandspeed,andhumidityandprecipitation.
SC.6.L.14.2
SC.6.L.14.3
SC.6.L.14.4
SC.6.L.14.5
SC.6.L.14.6
SC.6.L.15.1
Giveseveralexamplesofscientificlaws.
Identifytheroleofmodelsinthecontextofthesixthgradesciencebenchmarks.
Differentiateandshowinteractionsamongthegeosphere,hydrosphere,cryosphere,atmosphere,andbiosphere.
Explainhowenergyprovidedbythesuninfluencesglobalpatternsofatmosphericmovementandthetemperaturedifferencesbetweenair,water,andland.
Differentiatebetweenweatherandclimate.
InvestigatehownaturaldisastershaveaffectedhumanlifeinFlorida.
Describewayshumanbeingsprotectthemselvesfromhazardousweatherandsunexposure.
Describehowthecompositionandstructureoftheatmosphereprotectslifeandinsulatestheplanet.
ExploretheLawofConservationofEnergybydifferentiatingbetweenpotentialandkineticenergy.Identifysituationswherekineticenergyistransformedintopotentialenergyandviceversa.
Measureandgraphdistanceversustimeforanobjectmovingataconstantspeed.Interpretthisrelationship.
Investigateanddescribetypesofforcesincludingcontactforcesandforcesactingatadistance,suchaselectrical,magnetic,andgravitational.
ExploretheLawofGravitybyrecognizingthateveryobjectexertsgravitationalforceoneveryotherobjectandthattheforcedependsonhowmuchmasstheobjectshaveandhowfaraparttheyare.
Investigateanddescribethatanunbalancedforceactingonanobjectchangesitsspeed,ordirectionofmotion,orboth.
Describeandidentifypatternsinthehierarchicalorganizationoforganismsfromatomstomoleculesandcellstotissuestoorganstoorgansystemstoorganisms.
Investigateandexplainthecomponentsofthescientifictheoryofcells(celltheory):allorganismsarecomposedofcells(single-celledormulti-cellular),allcellscomefrompre-existingcells,andcellsarethe
basicunitoflife.
Recognizeandexplorehowcellsofallorganismsundergosimilarprocessestomaintainhomeostasis,includingextractingenergyfromfood,gettingridofwaste,andreproducing.
Compareandcontrastthestructureandfunctionofmajororganellesofplantandanimalcells,includingcellwall,cellmembrane,nucleus,cytoplasm,chloroplasts,mitochondria,andvacuoles.
Identifyandinvestigatethegeneralfunctionsofthemajorsystemsofthehumanbody(digestive,respiratory,circulatory,reproductive,excretory,immune,nervous,andmusculoskeletal)anddescribeways
thesesystemsinteractwitheachothertomaintainhomeostasis.
Compareandcontrasttypesofinfectiousagentsthatmayinfectthehumanbody,includingviruses,bacteria,fungi,andparasites.
AnalyzeanddescribehowandwhyorganismsareclassifiedaccordingtosharedcharacteristicswithemphasisontheLinnaeansystemcombinedwiththeconceptofDomains.
Pasco County Middle School Science Criteria-NGSSS
Use for PMP criteria determination
Seventh Grade
*Meeting minimal criteria should be determined based on the successful application of the following benchmarks.
Bodyof
Knowledge
Natureof
Science
*6outof10
Earth/Space
Science
*5outof7
Standard
SC.7.N.1.1
SC.7.N.1.2
SC.7.N.1.3
SC.7.N.1.4
SC.7.N.1.5
SC.7.N.1.6
SC.7.N.1.7
SC.7.N.2.1
SC.7.N.3.1
SC.7.N.3.2
SC.7.E.6.1
LifeScience
*6outof10
Explainthatempiricalevidenceisthecumulativebodyofobservationsofanaturalphenomenononwhichscientificexplanationsarebased.
Explainthatscientificknowledgeistheresultofagreatdealofdebateandconfirmationwithinthesciencecommunity.
Identifyaninstancefromthehistoryofscienceinwhichscientificknowledgehaschangedwhennewevidenceornewinterpretationsareencountered.
Recognizeandexplainthedifferencebetweentheoriesandlawsandgiveseveralexamplesofscientifictheoriesandtheevidencethatsupportsthem.
Identifythebenefitsandlimitationsoftheuseofscientificmodels.
DescribethelayersofthesolidEarth,includingthelithosphere,thehotconvectingmantle,andthedensemetallicliquidandsolidcores.
Identifythepatternswithintherockcycleandrelatethemtosurfaceevents(weatheringanderosion)andsub-surfaceevents(platetectonicsandmountainbuilding).
SC.7.E.6.3
SC.7.E.6.4
IdentifycurrentmethodsformeasuringtheageofEarthanditsparts,includingthelawofsuperpositionandradioactivedating.
ExplainandgiveexamplesofhowphysicalevidencesupportsscientifictheoriesthatEarthhasevolvedovergeologictimeduetonaturalprocesses.
ExplorethescientifictheoryofplatetectonicsbydescribinghowthemovementofEarth'scrustalplatescausesbothslowandrapidchangesinEarth'ssurface,includingvolcaniceruptions,earthquakes,and
mountainbuilding.
IdentifytheimpactthathumanshavehadonEarth,suchasdeforestation,urbanization,desertification,erosion,airandwaterquality,changingtheflowofwater.
RecognizethatheatflowandmovementofmaterialwithinEarthcausesearthquakesandvolcaniceruptions,andcreatesmountainsandoceanbasins.
Illustratethatthesun'senergyarrivesasradiationwithawiderangeofwavelengths,includinginfrared,visible,andultraviolet,andthatwhitelightismadeupofaspectrumofmanydifferentcolors.
Observeandexplainthatlightcanbereflected,refracted,and/orabsorbed.
SC.7.E.6.6
SC.7.E.6.7
SC.7.P.10.1
SC.7.P.10.2
SC.7.P.10.3
SC.7.P.11.1
SC.7.P.11.2
SC.7.P.11.3
SC.7.P.11.4
SC.7.L.15.1
SC.7.L.15.2
SC.7.L.15.3
SC.7.L.16.1
Defineaproblemfromtheseventhgradecurriculum,useappropriatereferencematerialstosupportscientificunderstanding,planandcarryoutscientificinvestigationofvarioustypes,suchassystematic
observationsorexperiments,identifyvariables,collectandorganizedata,interpretdataincharts,tables,andgraphics,analyzeinformation,makepredictions,anddefendconclusions.
Differentiatereplication(byothers)fromrepetition(multipletrials).
Distinguishbetweenanexperiment(whichmustinvolvetheidentificationandcontrolofvariables)andotherformsofscientificinvestigationandexplainthatnotallscientificknowledgeisderivedfrom
experimentation.
Identifytestvariables(independentvariables)andoutcomevariables(dependentvariables)inanexperiment.
Describethemethodsusedinthepursuitofascientificexplanationasseenindifferentfieldsofsciencesuchasbiology,geology,andphysics.
SC.7.E.6.2
SC.7.E.6.5
Physical
Science
*4outof7
Benchmark
SC.7.L.16.2
SC.7.L.16.3
SC.7.L.16.4
SC.7.L.17.1
SC.7.L.17.2
SC.7.L.17.3
Recognizethatlightwaves,soundwaves,andotherwavesmoveatdifferentspeedsindifferentmaterials.
Recognizethataddingheattoorremovingheatfromasystemmayresultinatemperaturechangeandpossiblyachangeofstate.
Investigateanddescribethetransformationofenergyfromoneformtoanother.
Citeevidencetoexplainthatenergycannotbecreatednordestroyed,onlychangedfromoneformtoanother.
Observeanddescribethatheatflowsinpredictableways,movingfromwarmerobjectstocooleronesuntiltheyreachthesametemperature.
Recognizethatfossilevidenceisconsistentwiththescientifictheoryofevolutionthatlivingthingsevolvedfromearlierspecies.
Explorethescientifictheoryofevolutionbyrecognizingandexplainingwaysinwhichgeneticvariationandenvironmentalfactorscontributetoevolutionbynaturalselectionanddiversityoforganisms.
Explorethescientifictheoryofevolutionbyrelatinghowtheinabilityofaspeciestoadaptwithinachangingenvironmentmaycontributetotheextinctionofthatspecies.
Understandandexplainthateveryorganismrequiresasetofinstructionsthatspecifiesitstraits,thatthishereditaryinformation(DNA)containsgeneslocatedinthechromosomes
ofeachcell,andthatheredityisthepassageoftheseinstructionsfromonegenerationtoanother.
DeterminetheprobabilitiesforgenotypeandphenotypecombinationsusingPunnettSquaresandpedigrees.
Compareandcontrastthegeneralprocessesofsexualreproductionrequiringmeiosisandasexualreproductionrequiringmitosis.
Recognizeandexploretheimpactofbiotechnology(cloning,geneticengineering,artificialselection)ontheindividual,societyandtheenvironment.
Explainandillustratetherolesofandrelationshipsamongproducers,consumers,anddecomposersintheprocessofenergytransferinafoodweb.
Compareandcontrasttherelationshipsamongorganismssuchasmutualism,predation,parasitism,competition,andcommensalism.
Describeandinvestigatevariouslimitingfactorsinthelocalecosystemandtheirimpactonnativepopulations,includingfood,shelter,water,space,disease,parasitism,predation,andnestingsites.
Pasco County Middle School Science Criteria-NGSSS
Use for PMP criteria determination
EighthGrade
*Meetingminimalcriteriashouldbedeterminedbasedonthesuccessfulapplicationofthefollowingbenchmarks.
Bodyof
Knowledge
Natureof
Science
*8outof12
Standard
SC.8.E.5.12
SC.8.P.8.1
SC.8.P.8.2
Defineaproblemfromtheeighthgradecurriculumusingappropriatereferencematerialstosupportscientificunderstanding,planandcarryoutscientificinvestigationsofvarioustypes,suchassystematic
observationsorexperiments,identifyvariables,collectandorganizedata,interpretdataincharts,tables,andgraphics,analyzeinformation,makepredictions,anddefendconclusions.
Designandconductastudyusingrepeatedtrialsandreplication.
Usephrasessuchas"resultssupport"or"failtosupport"inscience,understandingthatsciencedoesnotofferconclusive'proof'ofaknowledgeclaim.
Explainhowhypothesesarevaluableiftheyleadtofurtherinvestigations,eveniftheyturnoutnottobesupportedbythedata.
Analyzethemethodsusedtodevelopascientificexplanationasseenindifferentfieldsofscience.
Understandthatscientificinvestigationsinvolvethecollectionofrelevantempiricalevidence,theuseoflogicalreasoning,andtheapplicationofimaginationindevisinghypotheses,predictions,explanations
andmodelstomakesenseofthecollectedevidence.
Distinguishbetweenscientificandpseudoscientificideas.
Discusswhatcharacterizesscienceanditsmethods.
Selectmodelsusefulinrelatingtheresultsoftheirowninvestigations.
Explainwhytheoriesmaybemodifiedbutarerarelydiscarded.
Explainthatscienceisoneoftheprocessesthatcanbeusedtoinformdecisionmakingatthecommunity,state,national,andinternationallevels.
Explainhowpolitical,social,andeconomicconcernscanaffectscience,andviceversa.
Recognizethatthereareenormousdistancesbetweenobjectsinspaceandapplyourknowledgeoflightandspacetraveltounderstandthisdistance.
Recognizethattheuniversecontainsmanybillionsofgalaxiesandthateachgalaxycontainsmanybillionsofstars.
Distinguishthehierarchicalrelationshipsbetweenplanetsandotherastronomicalbodiesrelativetosolarsystem,galaxy,anduniverse,includingdistance,size,andcomposition.
ExploretheLawofUniversalGravitationbyexplainingtherolethatgravityplaysintheformationofplanets,stars,andsolarsystemsandindeterminingtheirmotions.
Describeandclassifyspecificphysicalpropertiesofstars:apparentmagnitude(brightness),temperature(color),size,andluminosity(absolutebrightness).
Createmodelsofsolarpropertiesincluding:rotation,structureoftheSun,convection,sunspots,solarflares,andprominences.
CompareandcontrastthepropertiesofobjectsintheSolarSystemincludingtheSun,planets,andmoonstothoseofEarth,suchasgravitationalforce,distancefromtheSun,speed,movement,temperature,
andatmosphericconditions.
ComparevarioushistoricalmodelsoftheSolarSystem,includinggeocentricandheliocentric.
Explaintheimpactofobjectsinspaceoneachotherincluding:1.theSunontheEarthincludingseasonsandgravitationalattraction2.theMoonontheEarth,includingphases,tides,andeclipses,andthe
relativepositionofeachbody.
Assesshowtechnologyisessentialtoscienceforsuchpurposesasaccesstoouterspaceandotherremotelocations,samplecollection,measurement,datacollectionandstorage,computation,and
communicationofinformation.
Identifyandcomparecharacteristicsoftheelectromagneticspectrumsuchaswavelength,frequency,use,andhazardsandrecognizeitsapplicationtoanunderstandingofplanetaryimagesandsatellite
photographs.
SummarizetheeffectsofspaceexplorationontheeconomyandcultureofFlorida.
Explorethescientifictheoryofatoms(alsoknownasatomictheory)byusingmodelstoexplainthemotionofparticlesinsolids,liquids,andgases.
Differentiatebetweenweightandmassrecognizingthatweightistheamountofgravitationalpullonanobjectandisdistinctfrom,thoughproportionalto,mass.
SC.8.P.8.3
Exploreanddescribethedensitiesofvariousmaterialsthroughmeasurementoftheirmassesandvolumes.
SC.8.N.1.1
SC.8.N.1.2
SC.8.N.1.3
SC.8.N.1.4
SC.8.N.1.5
SC.8.N.1.6
Earth/Space
Science
*7outof
12
SC.8.N.2.1
SC.8.N.2.2
SC.8.N.3.1
SC.8.N.3.2
SC.8.N.4.1
SC.8.N.4.2
SC.8.E.5.1
SC.8.E.5.2
SC.8.E.5.3
SC.8.E.5.4
SC.8.E.5.5
SC.8.E.5.6
SC.8.E.5.7
SC.8.E.5.8
SC.8.E.5.9
SC.8.E.5.10
SC.8.E.5.11
Physical
Science
*8outof
12
SC.8.P.8.4
SC.8.P.8.5
SC.8.P.8.6
SC.8.P.8.7
SC.8.P.8.8
SC.8.P.8.9
SC.8.P.9.1
SC.8.P.9.2
SC.8.P.9.3
Life
Science
*3outof4
Benchmark
Classifyandcomparesubstancesonthebasisofcharacteristicphysicalpropertiesthatcanbedemonstratedormeasured;forexample,density,thermalorelectricalconductivity,solubility,magneticproperties,
meltingandboilingpoints,andknowthatthesepropertiesareindependentoftheamountofthesample.
Recognizethatthereareafinitenumberofelementsandthattheiratomscombineinamultitudeofwaystoproducecompoundsthatmakeupallofthelivingandnonlivingthingsthatweencounter.
Recognizethatelementsaregroupedintheperiodictableaccordingtosimilaritiesoftheirproperties.
Explorethescientifictheoryofatoms(alsoknownasatomictheory)byrecognizingthatatomsarethesmallestunitofanelementandarecomposedofsub-atomicparticles(electronssurroundinganucleus
containingprotonsandneutrons).
Identifybasicexamplesofandcompareandclassifythepropertiesofcompounds,includingacids,bases,andsalts.
Distinguishamongmixtures(includingsolutions)andpuresubstances.
ExploretheLawofConservationofMassbydemonstratingandconcludingthatmassisconservedwhensubstancesundergophysicalandchemicalchanges.
Differentiatebetweenphysicalchangesandchemicalchanges.
Investigateanddescribehowtemperatureinfluenceschemicalchanges.
SC.8.L.18.1
Describeandinvestigatetheprocessofphotosynthesis,suchastherolesoflight,carbondioxide,waterandchlorophyll;productionoffood;releaseofoxygen.
SC.8.L.18.2
SC.8.L.18.3
Describeandinvestigatehowcellularrespirationbreaksdownfoodtoprovideenergyandreleasescarbondioxide.
SC.8.L.18.4
CiteevidencethatlivingsystemsfollowtheLawsofConservationofMassandEnergy.
Constructascientificmodelofthecarboncycletoshowhowmatterandenergyarecontinuouslytransferredwithinandbetweenorganismsandtheirphysicalenvironment.