Nevada State Standards for Science: Grade 12

NV.N.12.A. Scientific Inquiry (Nature of Science Unifying Concept A): Students understand that a variety of communication methods can be used to share scientific information.

N.12.A.1. Using Data: Students know tables, charts, illustrations and graphs can be used in making arguments and claims in oral and written presentations. E/S

N.12.A.2. Record-keeping: Students know scientists maintain a permanent record of procedures, data, analyses, decisions, and understandings of scientific investigations. I/S

N.12.A.3. Accuracy: Students know repeated experimentation allows for statistical analysis and unbiased conclusions. E/S

N.12.A.4. Safe Experimentation: Students know how to safely conduct an original scientific investigation using the appropriate tools and technology. E/L

N.12.A.5. Models: Students know models and modeling can be used to identify and predict cause-effect relationships. I/S

N.12.A.6. Models: Students know organizational schema can be used to represent and describe relationships of sets. E/S

NV.N.12.B. Science, Technology, and Society (Nature of Science Unifying Concept B): Students understand the impacts of science and technology in terms of costs and benefits to society.

N.12.B.1. Risks and Benefits: Students know science, technology, and society influenced one another in both positive and negative ways. E/S

N.12.B.2. Ethical Behavior: Students know consumption patterns, conservation efforts, and cultural or social practices in countries have varying environmental impacts. E/S

N.12.B.3. Ethical Behavior: Students know the influence of ethics on scientific enterprise. E/S

N.12.B.4. Collaboration: Students know scientific knowledge builds on previous information. E/S

NV.P.12.A. Matter (Physical Science Unifying Concept A): Students understand that atomic structure explains the properties and behavior of matter.

P.12.A.1. Properties of Matter: Students know different molecular arrangements and motions account for the different physical properties of solids, liquids, and gases. E/S

P.12.A.2. Properties of Matter: Students know elements in the periodic table are arranged into groups and periods by repeating patterns and relationships. E/S

P.12.A.3. Mixtures and Compounds: Students know identifiable properties can be used to separate mixtures. E/S

P.12.A.4. Mixtures and Compounds: Students know atoms bond with one another by transferring or sharing electrons. E/S

P.12.A.5. Mixtures and Compounds: Students know chemical reactions can take place at different rates, depending on a variety of factors (i.e. temperature, concentration, surface area, and agitation). E/S

P.12.A.6. Mixtures and Compounds: Students know chemical reactions either release or absorb energy. E/S

P.12.A.7. Mixtures and Compounds: Students know that, in chemical reactions, elements combine in predictable ratios, and the numbers of atoms of each element do not change. I/S

P.12.A.8. Atomic Structure: Students know most elements have two or more isotopes, some of which have practical applications. I/S

P.12.A.9. Atomic Structure: Students know the number of electrons in an atom determines whether the atom is electrically neutral or an ion. I/S

NV.P.12.B. Forces and Motion (Physical Science Unifying Concept B): Students understand the interactions between force and motion.

P.12.B.1. Motion: Students know laws of motion can be used to determine the effects of forces on the motion of objects. E/S

P.12.B.2. Forces: Students know magnetic forces and electric forces can be thought of as different aspects of electromagnetic force. I/S

P.12.B.3. Forces: Students know the strength of the electric force between two objects increases with charge and decreases with distance. I/S

P.12.B.4. Forces: Students know the strength of the gravitational force between two objects increases with mass and decreases rapidly with distance. I/S

NV.P.12.C. Energy (Physical Science Unifying Concept C): Students understand that there are interactions between matter and energy.

P.12.C.1. Waves: Students know waves (I.e. sound, seismic, electromagnetic) have energy that can be transferred when the waves interact with matter. E/S

P.12.C.2. Forms and Uses of Energy: Students know energy forms can be converted. E/S

P.12.C.3. Forms and Uses of Energy: Students know nuclear reactions convert a relatively small amount of material into a large amount of energy. I/S

P.12.C.4. Forms and Uses of Energy: Students know characteristics, applications and impacts of radioactivity. E/S

P.12.C.5. Forms and Uses of Energy: Students know the relationship between heat and temperature. I/S

P.12.C.6. Electricity: Students know electricity is transferred from generating sources for consumption and practical uses. I/S

NV.L.12.A. Heredity (Life Science Unifying Concept A): Students understand how genetic information is passed from one generation to another.

L.12.A.1. DNA: Students know genetic information passed from parents to offspring is coded in the DNA molecule. E/S

L.12.A.2. DNA: Students know DNA molecules provide instructions for assembling protein molecules. E/S

L.12.A.3. DNA: Students know all body cells in an organism develop from a single cell and contain essentially identical genetic instructions. E/S

L.12.A.4. Predicting: Students know several causes and effects of somatic versus sex cell mutations. E/S

L.12.A.5. Predicting: Students know how to predict patterns of inheritance. E/S

NV.L.12.B. Structure of Life (Life Science Unifying Concept B): Students understand that all life forms, at all levels of organization, use specialized structure and similar processes to meet life's needs.

L.12.B.1. Cells: Students know cell structures and their functions. E/S

L.12.B.2. Cells: Students know the human body has a specialized anatomy and physiology composed of an hierarchical arrangement of differentiated cells. E/S

L.12.B.3. Disease: Students know disease disrupts the equilibrium that exists in a healthy organism. E/S

NV.L.12.C. Organisms and Their Environment (Life Science Unifying Concept C): Students understand that ecosystems display patterns of organization, change, and stability as a result of the interactions and interdependencies among the living and non-living components of the Earth.

L.12.C.1. Cycles: Students know relationships of organisms and their physical environment E/S

L.12.C.2. Ecosystems: Students know how changes in an ecosystem can affect biodiversity and biodiversity's contribution to an ecosystem's stability. E/S

L.12.C.3. Ecosystems: Students know the amount of living matter an environment can support is limited by the availability of matter, energy, and the ability of the ecosystem to recycle materials. E/S

L.12.C.4. Ecosystems: Students know the unique geologic, hydrologic, climatic, and biological characteristics of Nevada's bioregions. E/S

NV.L.12.D. Diversity of Life (Life Science Unifying Concept D): Students understand biological evolution and diversity of life.

L.12.D.1. Evolution: Students know organisms can be classified based on evolutionary relationships. E/S

L.12.D.2. Evolution: Students know similarity of DNA sequences gives evidence of relationships between organisms. E/S

L.12.D.3. Natural Selection: Students know the fossil record gives evidence for natural selection and its evolutionary consequences. E/S

L.12.D.4. Natural Selection: Students know the extinction of species can be a natural process. E/S

L.12.D.5. Natural Selection: Students know biological evolution explains diversity of life. E/S

L.12.D.6. Natural Selection: Students know the concepts of natural and artificial selection. E/S

NV.E.12.A. Atmospheric Processes and the Water Cycle (Earth and Space Science Unifying Concept A): Students understand heat and energy transfer in and out of the atmosphere and influence weather and climate.

E.12.A.1. Sun's Energy: Students know the Sun is the major source of Earth's energy, and provides the energy driving Earth's weather and climate. E/S

E.12.A.2. Weather: Students know the composition of Earth's atmosphere has changed in the past and is changing today. I/S

E.12.A.3. Weather: Students understand the role of the atmosphere in Earth's greenhouse effect. E/S

E.12.A.4. Weather: Students know convection and radiation play important roles in moving heat energy in the Earth system. E/S

E.12.A.5. Weather: Students know Earth's rotation affects winds and ocean currents. I/S

NV.E.12.B. Solar System and Universe (Earth and Space Science Unifying Concept B): Students know scientific theories of origins and evolution of the universe.

E.12.B.1. Components of the Universe: Students know common characteristics of stars. I/S

E.12.B.2. Components of the Universe: Students know stars are powered by nuclear fusion of lighter elements into heavier elements, which results in the release of large amounts of energy. I/S

E.12.B.3. Components of the Universe: Students know ways in which technology has increased understanding of the universe. I/S

E.12.B.4. Formation of Universe: Students know the on-going processes involved in star formation and destruction. W/L

E.12.B.5. Formation of Universe: Students know scientific evidence suggest that the universe is expanding. I/S

E.12.B.6. Celestial Motion: Students know regular and predictable motions of Earth around the Sun and the Moon around the Earth explain such phenomena as the day, the year, phases of the Moon, and eclipses. E/S

NV.E.12.C. Earth's Composition and Structure (Earth and Space Science Unifying Concept C): Students understand evidence for processes that take place on a geologic time scale.

E.12.C.1. Geologic Processes: Students know how successive rock strata and fossils can be used to confirm the age, history, and changing life forms of the Earth, including how this evidence is affected by the folding, breaking, and uplifting of layers. E/S

E.12.C.2. Plate Tectonics: Students understand the concept of plate tectonics including the evidence that supports it (structural, geophysical and paleontological evidence). E/S

E.12.C.3. Earth's Composition and Resources: Students know elements exist in fixed amounts and move through solid earth, oceans, atmosphere and living things as part of biogeochemical cycles. E/S

E.12.C.4. Earth's Composition and Resources: Students know processes of obtaining, using, and recycling of renewable and non-renewable resources. E/S

E.12.C.5. Earth's Composition and Resources: Students know soil, derived from weathered rocks and decomposed organic material, is found in layers. E/S