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Teaching Climate Solutions:
Middle School Resources Organized by Key NGSS Standards

NGSS & CLEAN
at a Glance »
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Performance Expectations ? About  

The NGSS Performance Expectations are statements that explain what all students should know and be able to do after instruction. These comprehensive statements should not limit teaching and learning. Performance Expectations are best addressed in instruction when resources are bundled together to address big ideas in science. The CLEAN collection includes resources that do not fully address any one Performance Expectation. Bundling CLEAN resources will support instruction towards Performance Expectations. Most resources are tagged for DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs. Those tagged for Performance Expectations, fully address the PEs.

Design a method for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment.
MS-ESS3-3
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
Construct an argument for how increases in human population impact Earth’s systems.
MS-ESS3-4
Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
Define the criteria used to ensure a successful solution.
MS-ETS1-1
Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Evaluate competing solutions.
MS-ETS1-2
Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Weather and climate are influenced by sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and geography.
MS-ESS2.D1
Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.
Humans depend on Earth for many different resources. Most resources are limited, and many are not renewable over human lifetimes. These resources are distributed unevenly around the planet.
MS-ESS3.A1
Humans depend on Earth’s land, ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere for many different resources. Minerals, fresh water, and biosphere resources are limited, and many are not renewable or replaceable over human lifetimes. These resources are distributed unevenly around the planet as a result of past geologic processes.
Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature.
MS-ESS3.D1
Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.
There are processes for evaluating solutions with respect to how well they meet criteria and constraints of a problem.
MS-ETS1.B2
There are systematic processes for evaluating solutions with respect to how well they meet the criteria and constraints of a problem.

Science and Engineering Practices

Apply scientific ideas or principles to construct or test a design.
MS-P6.6
Apply scientific ideas or principles to design, construct, and/or test a design of an object, tool, process or system.
Optimize performance of a design by prioritizing criteria, making tradeoffs, testing, revising, and re- testing
MS-P6.8
Optimize performance of a design by prioritizing criteria, making tradeoffs, testing, revising, and re- testing.
Evaluate competing design solutions based on jointly developed and agreed-upon design criteria.
MS-P7.5
Evaluate competing design solutions based on jointly developed and agreed-upon design criteria.
Communicate scientific or technical information in writing or through oral presentations.
MS-P8.5
Communicate scientific and/or technical information (e.g. about a proposed object, tool, process, system) in writing and/or through oral presentations.

Cross Cutting Concepts

Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.
MS-C1.4
Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.
Within a natural or designed system, the transfer of energy drives the motion and cycling of matter.
MS-C5.2
Within a natural or designed system, the transfer of energy drives the motion and/or cycling of matter.
Energy may take different forms (such as thermal energy or energy of motion).Energy may take different forms (such as thermal energy or energy of motion).
MS-C5.3
Energy may take different forms (e.g. energy in fields, thermal energy, energy of motion).
The transfer of energy can be tracked as energy flows through a designed or natural system.
MS-C5.4
The transfer of energy can be tracked as energy flows through a designed or natural system.

Resource Type

Activity
Short Demonstration/Experiment
Visualization
Video