STEM I: Foundations (2021): Grade 9

Safety

STEM Fields Exploration

Problem-Resolution Skills

Critical Thinking in Context

STEM Field Readiness

Cause and Effect Relationships in STEM

Accurately read and interpret safety rules, including but not limited to rules published by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), rules pertaining to electrical safety, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines, and state and national code requirements. Be able to distinguish between the rules and explain why certain rules apply. 

Identify and explain the intended use of safety equipment available in the classroom. For example, demonstrate how to properly inspect, use, and maintain safe operating procedures with tools and equipment. Incorporate safety procedures and complete safety test with 100 percent accuracy. 

Research the history of science, math, and engineering related to technology. Examine how these technologies have evolved, and evaluate their influence on present-day society, citing specific textual evidence from news articles and scholarly journals. 

Explore several occupations within the STEM field (such as manufacturing, computer science/programming, aviation, forensics, health science, engineering, transportation/ distribution & logistics, actuarial science) and describe the many sources and types of information that these occupations use. Determine how various industries employ different kinds of data to meet their needs. 

Investigate an assortment of skills and education required for STEM professionals. Write an informative text that identifies the typical educational and certification requirements, working environments, and career opportunities for these occupations. For example, participate in an information-gathering tour of a local organization that uses computer-aided design, and report on the roles and responsibilities of STEM professionals on staff, including the kinds of software and equipment they use. 

Research the terms engineering design and scientific inquiry. Compare and contrast the steps of the engineering design process to the steps of the scientific inquiry in a graphic illustration or presentation. 

Evaluate a question to determine if it is testable and can produce empirical data. Plan an investigation that outlines the steps of the design process to collect, record, analyze, and evaluate data. For example:

Given a real-world problem, identify several possible solutions using both the engineering design process and the scientific inquiry. For example:

Analyze solutions to a real-world problem collaboratively, to identify critical factors of the steps of the design process. Explain why these factors are critical. For example:

Given a real-world STEM scenario, identify the problem and develop meaningful questions. Differentiate between necessary and non-essential information as well as needs and wants for applying the scientific method of investigation or the engineering design process. For example, evaluate a STEM scenario related to one of the following:

Design and develop several solution prototypes, conduct feasibility testing, and use the data to justify the solution selected. For example: 

Collaborate to write a fictional, yet plausible, STEM problem-based scenario. Evaluate possible solutions, aligning work with the steps of the scientific method or the engineering design process. Consider possible constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts. Sample scenarios might include the following:

Conduct research to create a list of problems that are considered major global challenges. Choose one to analyze. Evaluate possible solutions, aligning work with the steps of the scientific method or the engineering design process. Consider possible constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts. Identify trade-offs and defend decisions that were made as a result of those trade-offs. Possible global challenges could include the following: 

Sort and evaluate data for its significance and/or meaning in the process of solving a problem as a STEM professional would. Examine the data in ways that reveal the relationships, patterns, and trends that can be found within it. Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative data. For example: 

Identify multiple forms of data and list mechanisms for collection that are essential to solving a problem. Prepare written documentation to justify findings.

Use available data to create an original prototype/solution to a scenario. 

Analyze multiple aspects of a problem scenario to identify cause/effect patterns. Consider the history of a problem to identify factors such as risks and benefits.

Explore mathematical models and/or computer simulations that are used by scientists and engineers to accurately predict the effect of components of their original prototype design. Examine a range of resources (e.g. texts, experiments, simulations) to consider which models are likely to be most efficient, economic, and beneficial. Write a justification to support the conclusion. 

Analyze data from scientific investigation or prototype testing and accurately identify the cause of the results. Examine constraints including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics. Consider social, cultural, and environmental impacts. Summarize findings using tables, functions, graphical representations, and written explanations.

Given a set of symptoms, determine whether there is enough data to diagnose a medical condition as would a physician or nurse practitioner. (Science)

Determine the information necessary in order to design a vehicle to carry a specified payload a designated distance in the least amount of time like a mechanical engineer. (Technology/Engineering)

Determine what information an actuary would need to know in order to answer a research question about which factors (accident, sickness, disability, etc.) are contributing the most to medical insurance claims in a region. (Mathematics)

Research several treatment plans for a severe allergy sufferer as would a biochemist or biophysicist. (Science) 

Investigate a variety of materials suitable for building structures to withstand earthquakes as would a civil engineer. (Technology/Engineering) 

Explore commonly used methods to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized alteration, destruction, or disclosure as would an information security analyst. (Technology/Mathematics)

Research types of prosthetics and submit a proposal for which one most effectively uses the design process in terms of feasibility, cost, safety, aesthetics, and durability like a biomedical engineer. (Science) 

Research ways a chemical engineer performs tests and monitors performance of processes throughout the stages of production for manufacturing chemicals and products such as gasoline, synthetic rubber, plastics, detergents, cement, paper, and pulp. Submit a proposal for which one most effectively uses the design process in terms of factors like mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying. (Technology/Engineering)

Investigate the development and use of models such as diagrams, simulations, graphs, and equations to represent findings from either science or engineering research. Critique others' proposals by providing specific arguments for or against their reasoning and methodology as would a statistician. (Technology/Mathematics) 

Environmental scientists perform tests on the quality of water in oceans, lakes, beaches, ponds, rivers, etc. Compare and contrast the pros and cons of using a satellite to provide real time data of water conditions in order to determine its validity as a resource for environmental engineers. (Science) 

The organization Engineers Without Borders implements projects worldwide to provide clean drinking water to developing nations. Identify the conditions and information collected in order to provide a sustainable water source to a rural farming community. (Technology/Engineering)

Robots need to be programmed to perform specific tasks in harsh working conditions such as welding parts in an automobile assembly line operation. Compare and contrast the pros and cons of using robots versus humans in a manufacturing facility. (Technology/Mathematics)

Use a construction set to efficiently build a vehicle at low cost, and to travel a straight path with predictability. (Science)

Using readily available, low cost materials, design a water filter in a soda bottle that lets as much water through as possible, but also removes as much particulate matter as possible as would a civil engineer. (Technology/Engineering)

Design and construct a robot to maneuver through a given obstacle course. Use circumference of the wheels and distance needed to travel to calculate how many rotations the wheels need to make. Justify the solution selected for the robot to maneuver most efficiently through the course. (Technology/Mathematics)

A scenario to diagnosis and identify a method of treatment for an illness based on several physical symptoms. (Science) 

A scenario that requires the design of a self-sustaining city for humans living on another planet. (Technology/Engineering)

A scenario that requires calculation of an investment of an inheritance so that its growth is maximized by a certain time. (Mathematics) 

Scientists work to address the threat of a global pandemic or issues related to food security. (Science) 

Engineers work to address issues related to climate change and global warming, global water shortages, and the need for alternative energy sources. (Technology/Engineering)

Statisticians work on projects related to national and international debt, the global population, or workforce imbalances and lack of jobs worldwide. (Mathematics)

Environmental scientists collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, and soil or water samples. (Science) 

Aerospace engineers identify information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. They are also expected to evaluate product data and design from inspections and reports for conformance to engineering principles, customer requirements, and quality standards. (Technology/Engineering)

Economists study economic and statistical data in various areas of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture. They also compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques. (Mathematics)

Statisticians analyze outcomes such as employment and educational attainment by identifying data sources, such as public data sets available from the Census Bureau, or collecting original data from the field, in order to model relationships among variables.

Engineers collect data such as ease of use, operation safety, material properties, and material costs in order to determine an optimal design solution from multiple ideas. 

Biomedical scientists and biomedical engineers design and construct prototype implants to fill and stabilize a partial bone defect. (Science)

Aerospace engineers test a drag device to slow a spacecraft and protect its cargo, as well as calculate the surface area and measure the mass of the spacecraft. (Science/Mathematics) 

Aerospace engineers perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. They conduct basic and applied research to evaluate adaptability of materials and equipment to aircraft design and manufacture, and recommend improvements in testing equipment and techniques. For example, variations in the nose and fins will result in different behaviors, so construction and testing of multiple designs is necessary. (Engineering)

Apply standardized mathematical formulas, principles, and methodology to the solution of technological problems involving projectiles as a mathematical technician would. Use computer software to analyze the critical aspects of parabolic motion, for example: height at any given time, maximum height, maximum distance. (Technology/Mathematics)

Meteorologists interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics. Investigate the use of mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting. (Science)

Civil engineers and civil drafters use the computer as a problem-solving tool. They identify locations of forces (tension, compression, torsion, shear, and resonance) in their bridge designs. Investigate the use of software to make modifications to multiple properties and gain immediate access to cost analysis and forces data. (Engineering/Technology)

Forensic scientists collect, identify, classify, and analyze physical evidence related to criminal investigations. They perform tests on weapons or substances, such as fiber, hair, and tissue, to determine significance to the investigation. (Science) 

Police frequently use mathematics in the analysis of crime data. Data can be stored and interpreted using wavelets, probability, and statistics. It can be securely transmitted using prime numbers and cryptography. (Mathematics/Technology)