Type of Principle or Practice

Fundamental principles (Big Ideas)

Earth systems: Earth, water, air

Living systems: Producers, consumers, decomposers

Engineered sys-tems: Food, water, shelter, energy, transportation

Acquiring data

Standards for data: precision & reproducibility

Acquiring data on earth systems

Acquiring data on living systems

Acquiring data on engineered systems

Finding patterns

Developing explanations

Predicting effects

Standards for models: fit to data, testability

Uncertainty in predictions

Developing data-based explanations and predictions about earth systems

Developing data-based explanations and predictions about living systems

Developing data-based explanations and predictions about engineered systems

Critiquing or evaluating investigations

Standards for arguments from evidence

Critiquing investigations of earth systems

Critiquing investigations of living system

Critiquing investigations of engineered system

Applying fundamental principles…

…to processes in coupled human and natural systems

Structure: Hierarchy of Systems

Microscopic (Atomic-molecular, cellular)

Properties of atoms and molecules

Cell structure, biomolecules

Materials in engineered systems

Macroscopic

Physical and chemical properties of materials

Multicellular organisms

Appliances, automobiles, etc.

Large scale

Matter pools

Populations, ecosystems

Large engineered systems

Constraints on Processes: Tracing  Matter, Energy, and Information

Matter: Air

Wind, weather

Atmospheric CO2

Air quality

Matter: Water

Water cycle

Transpiration

Human water systems

Matter: Carbon

Geological carbon cycle

Ecological carbon cycling, growth

Fossil fuel systems

Matter: Other materials

Sediments, pollutants, nutrients

(Nitrogen, phosphorous cycles)

Supply chains, waste disposal chains

Energy

Seasonal cycles, flow of solar energy

Ecological energy flow, photosynthesis & respiration

Human energy systems

Information

Genetics, life cycles, biodiversity

(Technology, economic andcultural diversity)

Change over Time

Reproduction and selection

Evolution: changes in size, diversity, central tendencies of populations

(Technological evolution in response to economics, regulations)

Multiple causation, feedback loops

Global climate change, land use

Invasive species, effects of climate change

Changes in technology, voluntary and involuntary lifestyle changes

Participation and agency

Identifying agents for issues

Agency in issues related to earth systems

Agency in issues related to living systems

Agency in issues related to engineered systems

Critiquing experts’ arguments

Identifying and critiquing scientific claims in social, economic, political arguments

Critiquing experts’ arguments about earth systems

Critiquing experts’ arguments about living systems

Critiquing experts’ arguments about earth systems

Reconciling values and actions

Identifying consequences that relate to values

Identifying consequences for earth systems

Identifying consequences for living systems

Identifying consequences for engineered systems