In kindergarten, throwing a ball can teach basic physics.
The science standards for public schools have been in place since 1998. These standards describe in detail "the essential skills and knowledge students will need to be scientifically literate citizens in the twenty-first century." The standards identify within each grade level what students should know about the physical, life and Earth sciences as well as investigate and experiment in science, which is used to teach all parts of the science standards.
Kindergarten through Third Grade
In the youngest grades, students learn the basics of physical, life and Earth sciences. In kindergarten and first grade, the standards include understanding texture, shapes, weight, plants and animals at the most basic levels. This includes understanding that some objects are heavier than others, the body parts of animals and the survival needs of plants and animals. By third grade students have gained an understanding of life cycles and start to experiment with and learn about chemistry principles, habitats and astronomy.
Fourth and Fifth Grades
In fourth grade the standards include teaching students how electricity and magnetic fields work. Life science includes learning all the parts of a food chain and how animals and plants evolve to fill a niche. The various types of rocks and how rocks and landmasses are formed are also part of the fourth grade science standards in California. By the end of fifth grade, students will have learned about the periodic table, elements, anatomy and the water cycle on Earth.
Middle School
Middle school science standards build on what students learn in elementary school to revisit many of the same science topics in greater detail. In sixth grade students learn about geological events, such as earthquakes, ecosystem dynamics and the energy cycle of different natural systems. Seventh-grade standards include cell biology, genetics, evolution, Earth history and how light works. Eight-grade standards focus a lot on physics and chemistry, with students learning about velocity, the structure of matter and atoms and chemical reactions.
High School
The high school standards in California are not divided by grade. Depending on how the high school structures its science courses, students may learn any of the standards in any grade from ninth to 12th. In high school the standards are designed to give students enough understanding to feel prepared for any college science course. The standards in high school include, but are not limited to, understanding thermodynamics, Newton's laws, waves, using the periodic table, chemical bonds, nuclear processes, cell biology for plants and animals, what properties affect an ecosystem and how energy travels through Earth. Students should also learn California geology in high school science courses.
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