These guides map the site's eight educational pieces to NGSS Performance Expectations. All codes are real NGSS identifiers (NGSS Lead States, 2013; verify at nextgenscience.org). Section 4 explains how to read the NGSS codes used throughout.
1. Content-to-NGSS Mapping Table
| Site Content | Grade Band | NGSS Performance Expectations | Core Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our Amazing Earth | K–5 | 1-ESS1-1; 2-ESS2-3; K-ESS3-3 | Observe celestial patterns; Earth's water distribution and limits; propose ways to reduce human environmental impact. |
| The Solar System | 5–8 | 5-ESS1-1; 5-ESS1-2; MS-ESS1-1; MS-ESS1-2; MS-ESS1-3 | Star brightness and distance; model shadow/day-night/season data; Moon-Earth system phases and seasons; gravity and solar-system motion; scale properties of solar-system objects. |
| Rocket Science Basics | 9–12 | HS-PS2-1; HS-PS2-4; HS-ESS1-4; HS-ETS1-2 | Analyze Newton's second law data; law of universal gravitation; orbital-motion calculations; evaluate trade-offs among engineering solutions. |
| Life in Space | 6–10 | MS-LS1-3; MS-PS2-2; MS-ETS1-1 | The human body as interacting subsystems (bone/muscle and microgravity); force-and-motion inquiry; define life-support engineering problems. |
| Water Rocket Challenge | 5–12 | MS-PS2-2; 3-5-ETS1-3; MS-ETS1-4 | Force, mass and changes in motion; test and iterate designs. |
| Build a Mars Rover | 5–12 | 3-5-ETS1-1; MS-ETS1-2/4 | Define problems, compare solutions, iterate improvements. |
| Make Your Own Telescope | 6–10 | MS-PS4-2 | Models of light reflection/refraction/transmission. |
| DIY Satellite Model | 6–10 | MS-PS2-1/2; MS-ETS1-1 | Simplified force-and-impulse models; define engineering constraints. |
How to use: Teachers select the row matching their grade band. The full official statement and classroom examples for each Performance Expectation are on the NGSS standard page at nextgenscience.org (search by code).
2. Unit Implementation Example (The Solar System, Grades 5–8, 8 Sessions)
- Sessions 1–2 (→ 5-ESS1-2): Shadow-observation data sheet + day-night curve drawing.
- Sessions 3–4 (→ MS-ESS1-1): Moon-phase sandbox/lamp-ball model; produce and sort eight phase cards.
- Sessions 5–6 (→ MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3): Scale experiment (paired with our Printable WS-1); gravity simulation (sheet-and-marble).
- Sessions 7–8 (performance assessment): Team "planet dossier" presentations, scored with the Presentation Rubric from Assessment Tools.
3. Course-by-Course Alignment (NGSS PEs + DCIs + Lesson Highlights)
DCI (Disciplinary Core Idea) codes and PE codes are real NGSS identifiers (e.g., PS2.A = Forces and Motion, ESS1.B = Earth and the Solar System). Verify at nextgenscience.org.
3.1 The Solar System (Grades 5–8, 8 Sessions)
- Aligns to: 5-ESS1-1, 5-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3; DCIs: ESS1.A (The Universe and Its Stars), ESS1.B (Earth and the Solar System), PS2.B (Types of Interactions).
- Lesson highlights: L1 Celestial patterns and scale intuition (ESS1.A); L2 Shadows and day-night data (5-ESS1-2); L3 Moon-phase modeling (MS-ESS1-1); L4 Seasons and Earth's axis; L5 Planet data table and classification (MS-ESS1-3); L6 Gravity and orbits (MS-ESS1-2 / PS2.B); L7 Scale experiment (paired with WS-1); L8 Performance assessment "planet dossier."
3.2 Rocket Science Basics (Grades 9–12, 8 Sessions)
- Aligns to: HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-4, HS-ESS1-4, HS-ETS1-2; DCIs: PS2.A (Forces and Motion), PS2.B (Types of Interactions), ESS1.B, ETS1.B (Developing Possible Solutions).
- Lesson highlights: L1 Newton's three laws and rockets; L2 Thrust equation F=ṁ·ve (PS2.A); L3 Specific impulse and fuel comparison; L4 Tsiolkovsky rocket equation (paired with WS-2); L5 Staging; L6 Delta-v budget vs. orbital velocity; L7 Escape velocity and orbital mechanics (HS-ESS1-4 / ESS1.B); L8 Launch-data investigation (using our Launches calendar).
3.3 Life in Space (Grades 6–10, 5 Sessions)
- Aligns to: MS-LS1-3, MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-1; DCIs: LS1.A (Structure and Function), PS2.A, ETS1.A (Defining Engineering Problems).
- Lesson highlights: L1 Space station orbit and free fall (PS2.A); L2 Human body systems in microgravity (LS1.A: bone/muscle subsystems); L3 Daily two-hour exercise and bone density; L4 Water recovery and life-support engineering (ETS1.A: define constraints); L5 Space schedule design (paired with WS-6) + International Space Station daily-routine comparison.
3.4 Our Amazing Earth (Grades K–5, 4 Sessions)
- Aligns to: 1-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-3, K-ESS3-3; DCIs: ESS1.A, ESS2.C (The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes), ESS3.C (Human Impacts on Earth Systems).
- Lesson highlights: L1 Earth's rotation and day-night (1-ESS1-1); L2 Atmosphere and water (2-ESS2-3: water is limited and distributed unevenly); L3 Season and moon-phase observation; L4 Earth-protection actions (K-ESS3-3, paired with WS-4).
4. How to Read the NGSS Codes (for U.S. Classrooms)
- Anatomy of a PE code (example: MS-ESS1-1): "MS" = middle-school grade band (K–5 codes carry the grade number, e.g., 5-ESS1-2); "ESS" = Earth and Space Science discipline (PS = Physical Science, LS = Life Science, ETS = Engineering, Technology and Applications of Science); "1" = the core idea within that discipline; the final digit = the specific performance expectation.
- Three dimensions in every PE: a Science and Engineering Practice (e.g., developing and using models), a Disciplinary Core Idea (e.g., ESS1.B, Earth and the Solar System) and a Crosscutting Concept (e.g., scale, proportion and quantity) are blended into one performance expectation. Our lesson highlights in Section 3 point out which dimension each activity emphasizes.
- DCI families used in these guides: ESS1.A (The Universe and Its Stars), ESS1.B (Earth and the Solar System), ESS2.C (The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes), ESS3.C (Human Impacts on Earth Systems), PS2.A (Forces and Motion), PS2.B (Types of Interactions), PS4.B (Electromagnetic Radiation), LS1.A (Structure and Function), ETS1.A–D (Engineering Design).
- State adaptation note: NGSS is adopted fully or adapted differently by individual states. If your state uses its own science standards, map from the PE codes here to your state document: the DCI and practice structure transfers directly. The official source for all codes is nextgenscience.org.
5. Live Data Tasks
- Each guide embeds one Live Data assignment: for example, "Use our Launches calendar to find which rocket has launched most often this month," connecting classroom practice to the site's real launch data.
Verification Sources: All NGSS PE and DCI codes (NGSS Lead States, 2013; verify at nextgenscience.org); NGSS topic arrangements and disciplinary core idea appendices (nextgenscience.org/resources).