National Science Education Standards (Grades 9-12)		Introduction	Headwaters	Midstream	Estuary
Life Science	The cell
	Molecular basis of heredity
	Biological evolution
	Interdependence of organisms		X
	Matter, energy, and organization in living systems
	Behavior of organisms
Science as Inquiry	Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
	Understandings about scientific inquiry
History and Nature of Science	Science as a human endeavor
	Nature of scientific knowledge
	Historical perspectives	X		X
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives	Personal and community health	X	X	X	X
	Population growth	X	X	X	X
	Natural resources	X	X	X	X
	Environmental quality
	Natural and human-induced hazards	X	X	X	X
	Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges	X	X	X	X
Science and Technology	Abilities of technological design
	Understandings about science and technology
Unifying Concepts and Processes	Systems, order, and organization	X	X	X	X
	Evidence, models, and explanation
	Change, constancy, and measurement		X	X	X
	Evolution and equilibrium
	Form and function

Students will use mathematical analysis, scientific inquiry and engineering design, as appropriate, to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.

• Explain and understand historical reasons for changes to Bronx River environment
• Evaluate mechanism of changes and relationships between natural and human systems
• Separate natural and human causes and effects

Students will access, generate, process and transfer information using appropriate technologies.

• Use web site to examine Bronx River habitat
• Search other sites (EPA, DEP, DEC, USGS, etc) for additional appropriate data and information
• Identify and contact appropriate agencies and officials to obtain additional data and information or make suggestions for future action
• Use simple processing techniques to analyze and display data

Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

• Understand difference between simple water quality metrics and what they signify in the river
• Understand how to make simple tests
• Evaluate ecosystem health using measured variables and survey results
• Explain evolving attitudes towards environment and specifically in water ecology and how that has promoted changes in Bronx River

Standard 5: Technology

Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.

• Design methods and systems to implement simple environmental remediation (bank stabilization, stream bed and current modification, native species reintroduction, etc)
• Analyze action and evaluate effectiveness of existing remediation strategies and technologies

Students will understand the relationships and common themes that connect mathematics, science, and technology and apply the themes to these and other areas of learning.

• Identify and explain different parts of Bronx River ecosystem
• Evaluate and explain connections between human and natural systems in Bronx River watershed and different parts of natural ecosystem
• Understand effects of individual variables and environmental changes on ecosystem as a whole

Students will apply the knowledge and thinking skills of mathematics, science, and technology to address real-life problems and make informed decisions.

• Identify decision-makers to present results of analysis
• Suggest changes or future action based on environmental analysis