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CrossCutSymbols
  • Crosscut Symbols for the NGSS Crosscutting Concepts
    • Patterns
    • Cause and Effect
    • Scale
    • Systems
    • Energy and Matter
    • Structure and Function
    • Stability and Change
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  • How to use the symbols
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Energy and Matter

Energy and Matter change forms but are not created or destroyed.  Energy flows and matter cycles through natural systems. How do energy and matter work in systems that you are studying? Energy and Matter is the fifth NGSS Crosscutting Concept.

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PictureAdam (that's his name) eats an apple.
Food gives us both energy to live and grow and the matter that builds our bodies.

Picture
Students can use the apple logo where energy and matter are key concepts

Grade Level Progressions for Energy and Matter
Critical questions for Energy and Matter-

How are energy and matter related in this system?
Where does the energy for this system come from? Where does it go?
What does energy do in the system? How is it changed?
What is the role of matter in this system? How does it change? How does it enter and exit the system?
Is the role of energy and matter in this system similar to other systems I have learned about? How is it different?
Engineering(energy)- How can we improve the energy efficiency of this system?
Engineering(matter)- If we change the materials, does that improve the system?
How do the energy and matter in this system relate to other crosscutting concepts?
Based on what I've learned, what other symbol could be used to represent Energy and Matter?

Questions that connect to the Science and Engineering Practices-

Asking Questions- How does energy work in this system? How does matter function?
Defining Problems- How can I make this more energy efficient? How can I use energy to improve the system? How can the materials be improved?
Models- How can we model the flow of energy ? How can we model the cycling of matter?
Investigations- Can we design and carry out an investigation to determine how energy or matter affects this system?
Data- What does the data tell us about the effect of energy on this system? What does the data tell us about the matter in this system?
Using Math- How can we use math to quantify the energy and matter in this system?
Computational Thinking- How can computers be used to track matter or energy in this system?
Explanations- How can I explain how energy affects this system? How can I explain how matter changes in this system?
Solutions- Does the change in materials improve the system? Is energy being used to improve the system?
Argument- What is the evidence for how energy and matter affect this system?
Information- What is already known about energy and matter in this system? How can I best communicate about energy and matter in this system?

Why is the apple the symbol for Energy and Matter? Energy and matter are very abstract concepts for younger students to understand. However students can understand that their bodies need food to give them energy to play and for their bodies to grow. The idea of food is central to how energy and matter interact in living systems. Older students will start to learn that the energy in their food began in the Sun and was converted through food chains and that the matter is continuously recycled in the environment. The apple is easy and fast to draw and represents a healthy food choice. A candle was considered for the symbol, but the connection between energy and matter is less obvious to young students.
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