NGSS Science Standards: What Your Child Should Learn by Grade

Science education has changed. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) don't just teach facts — they teach children to think like scientists.

What Is NGSS?

NGSS organizes science around three dimensions: Practices (what scientists do), Crosscutting Concepts (big ideas spanning all sciences), and Disciplinary Core Ideas (content knowledge).

Kindergarten: Weather, Plants, Animals, Forces

• Weather: Observe and describe patterns
• Plants & Animals: What do living things need?
• Forces: Pushes and pulls change motion

Grades 1–2: Sound, Light, Ecosystems

Grade 1: Sound & light, communication, patterns in the sky. Grade 2: Land & water, ecosystems, diversity of living things.

Grades 3–4: Forces, Inheritance, Earth Science

Grade 3: Forces & interactions, inheritance, weather & climate. Grade 4: Energy, waves, Earth's surface, information processing.

Grades 5–6: Matter, Cells, Earth Systems

Grade 5: Matter (particles), conservation, Earth's systems, stars & solar system. Grade 6: Cells, photosynthesis, Earth's history, human impact.

What Makes NGSS Different

NGSS emphasizes doing science over memorizing facts. Your child will ask questions, investigate, analyze data, and argue from evidence.

How KarshieKids Aligns

Every science skill on KarshieKids is tagged to specific NGSS standards. The KarshieScore™ system tracks mastery of each standard.

🎓 Explore science on KarshieKids — every NGSS standard, K through Grade 6.