NGSS Connections - Organized by Topic
Most sections of The Physics Classroom website are organized by topic. The topics roughly correlate with the types of units that physics teachers cover in their courses. This page is organized by those topics. For each topic, we have identified activites that target various dimensions of the Next Generation Science Standards and a link to the descriptions of such activities and the standards that they address.
For many of us Physics teachers, numerous concepts within our units are not included in the Next Generation Science Standards. For instance, you will find no references to Electric Circuits or Kinematics within the NGSS. Does this mean that a Physics Teacher should no longer include an Electric Circuits unit in their course? We think not. While there are no Disciplinary Core Ideas related to Electric Circuits, a teacher can include a Circuits unit within their course and still be mindful of the other two dimensions of NGSS - the Science and Engineering Practices and the Cross-Cutting Concepts. This page will help teachers make such connections.
Kinematics
Kinematics
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns
Velocity-TIme Graphs
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns
Stopping Distance
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Newton's Laws of Motion
Rocket Sledder
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Friction
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Skydiving
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models
Push It!
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Coffee Filter Physics
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Stability and Change
Carts, Bricks, and Bands
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking; Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Stability and Change
Vectors and Projectiles
Up and Down
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns
Maximizing the Range of a Projectile
- Discplinary Core Idea: None
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Paterns; Cause and Effect
Juggling
- Discplinary Core Idea: None
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Paterns
Forces in Two-Dimensions
None yet; but we have some planned. So check back later.
Momentum and Collisions
Egg Drop
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.2 and HS-PS2.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Stability and Change
- Engineering and Technology Standards: Optimizing the Deisgn Solution
Marshmallow Launcher
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Patterns
Air Bag Inflation and Passenger Safety
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Inelastic Collisions
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.2 and HS-PS2.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models
Elastic Collisions
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.2 and HS-PS2.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models
Collisions
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Systems and System Models
Work and Energy
Chart That Motion
- Discplinary Core Idea: Defintions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.1) and Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer (HS-PS3.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Energy: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation
It's All Uphill
- Discplinary Core Idea: Defintions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.1) and Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer (HS-PS3.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Hot Wheels Stopping Distance
- Discplinary Core Idea: Defintions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.1) and Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer (HS-PS3.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect; Energy and Matter
Energy on an Inclined Plane
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.2)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: System and System Models; Energy and Matter
Bat-Ball Collision
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.2)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter
Roller Coaster Energy
- Discplinary Core Idea: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer (HS-PS3.B.2) and Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life (HS-PS3.D.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter
Circular Motion and Gravitation
Roller Coaster Loops
- Discplinary Core Idea: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer (HS-PS3.B.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Energy and Matter; Structure and Function
Universal Gravitation: Gravitational Fields
- Discplinary Core Idea: Types of Interactions (HS-PS2.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models; Patterns
Orbital Motion
- Discplinary Core Idea: Earth and the Solar System (HS-ESS1.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models
Kepler's Law of Harmonies
- Discplinary Core Idea: Earth and the Solar System (HS-ESS1.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Intepreting Data; Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Weightlessness Training
- Discplinary Core Idea: Forces and Motion (HS-PS2.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Intepreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Static Electricity
Name That Charge
- Discplinary Core Idea: Types of Interactions (HS-PS2.B.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Charge Interactions
- Discplinary Core Idea: Types of Interactions (HS-PS2.B.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect
Sticky Tape Experiments
- Discplinary Core Idea: Types of Interactions (HS-PS2.B.2)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Polarization
- Discplinary Core Idea: Types of Interactions (HS-PS2.B.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect; Structure and Function
Coulomb's Law
- Discplinary Core Idea: Types of Interactions (HS-PS2.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Electric Field Lines
- Discplinary Core Idea: Types of Interactions (HS-PS2.B.2)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns
Electric Circuits
Wire Gauge and Characteristics
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.4)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Struture and Function; Cause and Effect
Voltage and Resistance
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.4)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Struture and Function; Cause and Effect
Bulb A versus Bulb B
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.4)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Structure and Function; Cause and Effect
Circuits Comparisons
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.4)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Cause and Effect
Series and Parallel Circuits
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.4)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Struture and Function; Cause and Effect
Thermal Physics
Linear Expansion of Materials
- Discplinary Core Idea: Structure and Properties of Matter (HS-PS1.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Stability and Change; Energy and Matter
Heating Curve
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.3)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Energy and Matter
Vibrations and Waves
Vibrations and Waves: Period of a Pendulum
- Science and Engineering Practices: Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Cause and Effect
Vibrations and Waves: Mass on a Spring
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Energy and Matter
Simple Wave Simulator
- Discplinary Core Idea: Wave Properties (HS-PS4.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Struture and Function
Standing Wave Maker
- Discplinary Core Idea: Wave Properties (HS-PS4.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Struture and Function
Vibrations and Waves: Standing Waves on a String
- Discplinary Core Idea: Wave Properties (HS-PS4.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Cause and Effect
Sound Waves and Music
Sound and Music: Intensity and the Decibel Scale
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.2)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Energy and Matter
Sound and Music: Sound Loudness and the Sone Scale
- Discplinary Core Idea: Definitions of Energy (HS-PS3.A.2)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Sound and Music: The Sound of Music
- Discplinary Core Idea: Waves Properties (HS-PS4.A.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect
Light and Color
Light Waves and Color: Cell Phone Radiation
- Discplinary Core Idea: Electromagnetic Radiation (HS-PS4.B.2)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Cause and Effect
Light Waves and Color: Light Brightness
- Discplinary Core Idea: Electromagnetic Radiation (HS-PS4.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Light Waves and Color: Shedding Light on Bulbs
- Discplinary Core Idea: Designing Possible Solutions (HS-ETS1.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Structure and Function
Reflection and Mirrors
Reflection and Mirrors: Concave Mirrors
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect
Reflection and Mirrors: Object-Image Relationships
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Refraction and Lenses
Refraction and Lenses: Reflection and Transmission
- Disciplinary Core Ideas: Electromagnetic Radiation (HS-PS4.B.1)
- Science and Engineering Practices: Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Cause and Effect
Refraction and Lenses: Snell's Law
- Science and Engineering Practices: Engaging in Argument from Evidence; Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Structure and Function
Refraction and Lenses: Lens Magnification Lab
- Science and Engineering Practices: Developing and Using Models; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence
- Cross-Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity