Common Planner
K–12 Standards

NGSS Crosscutting Concepts Grades 6, 7, 8

Other California Science sets

Patterns – Observed patterns in nature guide organization and classification and prompt questions about relationships and causes underlying them.CC-1

  • 1-i

    Macroscopic patterns are related to the nature of microscopic and atomic-level structure. CC-1-i

  • 1-ii

    Patterns in rates of change and other numerical relationships can provide information about natural and human designed systems. CC-1-ii

  • 1-iii

    Patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships. CC-1-iii   

  • 1-iv

    Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.CC-1-iv

Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Prediction – Events have causes, sometimes simple, sometimes multifaceted. Deciphering causal relationships, and the mechanisms by which they are mediated, is a major activity of science and engineering.CC-2

  • 2-i

    Relationships can be classified as causal or correlational, and correlation does not necessarily imply causation. CC-2-i

  • 2-ii

    Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural or designed systems.CC-2-ii

  • 2-iii

    Phenomena may have more than one cause, and some cause and effect relationships in systems can only be described using probability.CC-2-iii

Scale, Proportion, and Quantity – In considering phenomena, it is critical to recognize what is relevant at different size, time, and energy scales, and to recognize proportional relationships between different quantities as scales change.CC-3

  • 3-i

    Time, space, and energy phenomena can be observed at various scales using models to study systems that are too large or too small. CC-3-i

  • 3-ii

    The observed function of natural and designed systems may change with scale. CC-3-ii

  • 3-iii

    Proportional relationships (e.g., speed as the ratio of distance traveled to time taken) among different types of quantities provide information about the magnitude of properties and processes. CC-3-iii

  • 3-iv

    Scientific relationships can be represented through the use of algebraic expressions and equations. CC-3-iv

  • 3-v

    Phenomena that can be observed at one scale may not be observable at another scaleCC-3-v

Systems and System Models – A system is an organized group of related objects or components; models can be used for understanding and predicting the behavior of systems.CC-4

  • 4-i

    Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems. CC-4-i

  • 4-ii

    Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy, matter, and information flows within systems. CC-4-ii

  • 4-iii

    Models are limited in that they only represent certain aspects of the system under studyCC-4-iii

Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation – Tracking energy and matter flows, into, out of, and within systems helps one understand their system’s behaviorCC-5

  • 5-i

    Matter is conserved because atoms are conserved in physical and chemical processes. CC-5-i

  • 5-ii

    Within a natural or designed system, the transfer of energy drives the motion and/or cycling of matter. CC-5-ii

  • 5-iii

    Energy may take different forms (e.g. energy in fields, thermal energy, energy of motion). CC-5-iii

  • 5-iv

    The transfer of energy can be tracked as energy flows through a designed or natural system.CC-5-iv

Structure and Function – The way an object is shaped or structured determines many of its properties and functionsCC-6

  • 6-i

    Complex and microscopic structures and systems can be visualized, modeled, and used to describe how their function depends on the shapes, composition, and relationships among its parts; therefore, complex natural and designed structures/systems can be analyzed to determine how they function. CC-6-i

  • 6-ii

    Structures can be designed to serve particular functions by taking into account properties of different materials, and how materials can be shaped and used.CC-6-ii

Stability and Change – For both designed and natural systems, conditions that affect stability and factors that control rates of change are critical elements to consider and understand.CC-7

  • 7-i

    Explanations of stability and change in natural or designed systems can be constructed by examining the changes over time and forces at different scales, including the atomic scale. CC-7-i

  • 7-ii

    Small changes in one part of a system might cause large changes in another part. CC-7-ii

  • 7-iii

    Stability might be disturbed either by sudden events or gradual changes that accumulate over time. CC-7-iii

  • 7-iv

    Systems in dynamic equilibrium are stable due to a balance of feedback mechanisms.CC-7-iv

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
Where can I read the official document?
NGSS Appendix G – Crosscutting Concepts

Keep exploring

Keep exploring Science standards

Sibling grade bands, other subjects in this jurisdiction, and the same subject across other states.