The2009 Minnesota Academic Standards in Science set the expectations for achievement in science for K-12 students in Minnesota. The standards are grounded in the belief that all students can and should be scientifically literate. Scientific literacy enables people to use scientific principles and processes to make personal decisions and to participate in discussions of scientific issues that affect society (NRC, 1996). The standard sand benchmarks describe a connected body of science and engineering knowledge acquired through active participation in science experiences. These experiences include hands-on laboratory activities rooted in scientific inquiry and engineering design. The standards are placed at the grade level where mastery is expected with recognition that a progression of learning experiences in earlier grades builds the foundation for mastery later on.

The Minnesota Academic Standards in Science are organized by grade level into four content strands: 1) The Nature of Science and Engineering, 2) Physical Science, 3) Earth and Space Science, and 4) Life Science. It is important to note that the content and skills in The Nature of Science and Engineering are not intended to be taught as a stand-alone unit or an isolated course, but embedded and used in the teaching, learning and assessment of the content in the other strands. Each strand has three or four substrands. Each substrand contains two or more standard sand one or more benchmarks. The benchmarks supplement the standards by specifying the academic knowledge and skills that schools must offer and students must achieve to satisfactorily complete a standard. Not all standards are found at every grade level. The strands, substrands and standards are organized as follows.

STRAND1: NATURE OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Substrand 1:The Practice of Science

        Standard 1. Understandings about science

        Standard2. Scientific inquiry and investigation

Substrand 2:The Practice of Engineering

        Standard1. Understandings about engineering

        Standard2. Engineering design

Substrand 3: Interactions among Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Society

        Standard 1. Systems

        Standard 2. Careers and contributions inscience and engineering

        Standard 3. Mutual influence of science, engineering and society

        Standard 4. The role of mathematics and technology in science and engineering

STRAND 2: PHYSICAL SCIENCE 

Substrand 1: Matter

        Standard1. Properties and structure of matter

        Standard2. Changes in matter

Substrand 2: Motion

        Standard1. Describing motion

        Standard2. Forces

Substrand 3. Energy

        Standard1. Kinds of energy

        Standard2. Energy transformations

Substrand 4. Human Interactions with Physical Systems

    Standard 1. Interaction with the environment

STRAND 3: EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Substrand 1. Earth Structure and Processes

        Standard1. Plate tectonics

        Standard2. Earth’s changing surface

        Standard3. Rock sequences and Earth history

Substrand 2. Interdependence within the Earth System

        Standard1. Sources and transfer of energy

        Standard2. Weather and climate

        Standard3. Materials cycles

Substrand 3. The Universe

        Standard1. Solar system motion

        Standard2. Formation of the solar system

        Standard3. Age, scale and origin of the universe

Substrand 4. Human Interactions with Earth Systems

    Standard 1. Interaction with theenvironment

STRAND 4: LIFE SCIENCE

Substrand 1. Structure and Function in Living Systems

        Standard1. Levels of organization

        Standard2. Cells

Substrand 2. Interdependence among Living Systems

        Standard1. Ecosystems

        Standard2. Flow of energy and matter

Substrand 3. Evolution in Living Systems

        Standard1. Reproduction

        Standard2. Variation

        Standard3. Biological evolution

Substrand 4. Human Interactions with Living Systems

        Standard1. Interaction with the environment

        Standard2. Health and disease