High School Science Colorado Standards

Earth and Space Science

All stars, including the sun, undergo stellar evolution, and the study of stars' light spectra and brightness is used to identify compositional elements of stars, their movements, and their distances from Earth.

Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the life span of the sun and the role of nuclear fusion in the sun's core to release energy that eventually reaches Earth in the form of radiation.

Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.

Communicate scientific ideas about the way stars, over their life cycle, produce elements.

Natural hazards and other geological events have shaped the course of human history at local, regional, and global scales.

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.

Sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources, including the development of technologies.

Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among the management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.

Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.

Global climate models used to predict future climate change continue to improve our understanding of the impact of human activities on the global climate system.

Analyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth's systems.

Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.

Explanations of and predictions about the motions of orbiting objects are described by the laws of physics.

Use mathematical or computational representations to predict the motion of orbiting objects in the solar system.

The rock record resulting from tectonic and other geoscience processes as well as objects from the solar system can provide evidence of Earth's early history and the relative ages of major geologic formations.

Evaluate evidence of the past and current movements of continental and oceanic crust and the theory of plate tectonics to explain the ages of crustal rocks.

Apply scientific reasoning and evidence from ancient Earth materials, meteorites, and other planetary surfaces to construct an account of Earth's formation and early history.

Earth's systems, being dynamic and interacting, cause feedback effects that can increase or decrease the original changes, and these effects occur on different time scales, from sudden (e.g., volcanic ash clouds) to intermediate (ice ages) to very long-term tectonic cycles.

Develop a model to illustrate how Earth's internal and surface processes operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features.

Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.

Plate tectonics can be viewed as the surface expression of mantle convection, which is driven by heat from radioactive decay within Earth's crust and mantle.

Develop a model to illustrate how Earth's internal and surface processes operate at different spatial and temporal scales to form continental and ocean-floor features.

Develop a model based on evidence of Earth's interior to describe the cycling of matter by thermal convection.

The planet's dynamics are greatly influenced by water's unique chemical and physical properties.

Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

The role of radiation from the sun and its interactions with the atmosphere, ocean, and land are the foundation for the global climate system. Global climate models are used to predict future changes, including changes influenced by human behavior and natural factors.

Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.

Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of energy into and out of Earth's systems result in changes in climate.

Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Construct an argument based on evidence about the simultaneous co-evolution of Earth's systems and life on Earth.

The biosphere and Earth's other systems have many interconnections that cause a continual co-evolution of Earth's surface and life on it.

Construct an argument based on evidence about the simultaneous co-evolution of Earth's systems and life on Earth.

Resource availability has guided the development of human society and use of natural resources has associated costs, risks, and benefits.

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.

Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.

Life Science

DNA codes for the complex hierarchical organization of systems that enable life's functions.

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.

Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular organisms.

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.

Evidence of common ancestry and diversity between species can be determined by examining variations including genetic, anatomical and physiological differences.

Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.

Genetic variation among organisms affects survival and reproduction.

Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment. (

Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait.

The environment influences survival and reproduction of organisms over multiple generations.

Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.

Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

Humans have complex interactions with ecosystems and have the ability to influence biodiversity on the planet.

Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.

Growth and division of cells in complex organisms occurs by mitosis, which differentiates specific cell types.

Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex organisms.

Organisms use matter and energy to live and grow.

Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy.

Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.

Use a model to illustrate that cellular respiration is a chemical process whereby the bonds of food molecules and oxygen molecules are broken and the bonds in new compounds are formed resulting in a net transfer of energy.

Organisms interact with the living and nonliving components of the environment to obtain matter and energy.

Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.

Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.

Matter and energy necessary for life are conserved as they move through ecosystems.

Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for the cycling of matter and flow of energy in aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.

Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.

A complex set of interactions determine how ecosystems respond to disturbances.

Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

Organisms interact in groups to benefit the species.

Evaluate evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species' chances to survive and reproduce.

The characteristics of one generation are dependent upon the genetic information inherited from previous generations.

Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.

Variation between individuals results from genetic and environmental factors.

Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.

Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.

Physical Science

The sub-atomic structural model and interactions between electric charges at the atomic scale can be used to explain the structure and interactions of matter.

Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy levels of atoms.

Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.

Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the changes in total bond energy.

Waves have characteristic properties and behaviors.

Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.

Evaluate questions about the advantages of using a digital transmission and storage of information.

Both an electromagnetic wave model and a photon model explain features of electromagnetic radiation broadly and describe common applications of electromagnetic radiation.

Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning behind the idea that electromagnetic radiation can be described either by a wave model or a particle model, and that for some situations one model is more useful than the other.

Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.

Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.

Multiple technologies that are part of everyday experiences are based on waves and their interactions with matter.

Communicate technical information about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.

Chemical processes, their rates, their outcomes, and whether or not energy is stored or released can be understood in terms of collisions of molecules, rearrangement of atoms, and changes in energy as determined by properties of elements involved.

Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.

Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the changes in total bond energy.

Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs.

Refine the design of a chemical system by specifying a change in conditions that would produce increased amounts of products at equilibrium.

Use mathematical representations to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction.

The strong nuclear interaction provides the primary force that holds nuclei together. Nuclear processes including fusion, fission, and radioactive decays of unstable nuclei involve changes in nuclear binding energies.

Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay.

Newton's second law and the conservation of momentum can be used to predict changes in the motion of macroscopic objects.

Analyze data to support the claim that Newton's second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.

Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system.

Apply scientific and engineering ideas to design, evaluate, and refine a device that minimizes the force on a macroscopic object during a collision.

Forces at a distance are explained by fields that can transfer energy and can be described in terms of the arrangement and properties of the interacting objects and the distance between them.

Use mathematical representations of Newton's Law of Gravitation and Coulomb's Law to describe and predict the gravitational and electrostatic forces between objects.

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current.

Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials.

Energy is a quantitative property of a system that depends on the motion and interactions of matter and radiation within that system.

Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.

Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as a combination of energy associated with the motion of particles (objects) and energy associated with the relative positions of particles (objects).

Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transported from one place to another and transferred between systems.

Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).

Force fields (gravitational, electric, and magnetic) contain energy and can transmit energy across space from one object to another.

Develop and use a model of two objects interacting through electric or magnetic fields to illustrate the forces between objects and the changes in energy of the objects due to the interaction.

Although energy cannot be destroyed, it can be converted to less useful forms as it is captured, stored and transferred.

Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.

Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).

Practice responsible, ethical, and safe use of computing technology and the Internet.

Digital Citizenship

Evaluate the uses of AI.

Use AI tools to analyze and understand the world and to create and inspire ideas.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Create a security risk profile that recognizes and analyzes security concepts.

Recognize and analyze security concepts.

Cybersecurity

Create computational artifacts that consider security from tampering, malicious or otherwise.

Design and create programs, individually and collaboratively, for a variety of disciplines.

Computer Programming

Recognize and analyze security concepts.

Develop systems solutions from a set of specifications to complete a design process.

Use systems thinking to describe networks and common software and hardware components.

Computing Systems and Networks

Represent and analyze data in order to generate new knowledge and capability.

Systematically analyze a problem using decomposition and abstraction to formulate a solution.

Develop, utilize and evaluate algorithms, to model and solve problems.

Computational Thinking

Computational thinking is used to create algorithmic solutions to real-world problems.

Identify and create different types of algorithms (sort, search, etc.).

Predict the outcome of different types of algorithms.

Create or adapt algorithms to solve problems for multiple purposes (e.g., personal interests, stakeholder needs).

Use an algorithm that involves mathematical operations and functions to solve problems.

Use an iterative approach to utilizing and/or developing an algorithm.

Recognize problems that cannot be solved computationally.

Identify and describe algorithms that exist within their personal lives.

Algorithms can be represented and used in different ways (e.g., languages, diagrams, pseudocode).

Illustrate the flow of execution of an iterative algorithm (e.g., recursion).

Explain the value of heuristic algorithms to model ways to solve problems.

Adapt algorithms used in one problem to solve a related or different problem.

Use multiple methods to represent an algorithm (e.g., diagram, programming 4 language, unplugged).

Algorithm development and use is an ongoing process that involves adapting, critiquing and troubleshooting programs and/or processes.

Describe pros and cons of the performance of algorithms for the same task.

Use an iterative approach to developing an algorithm.

Test and troubleshoot so that algorithms produce reasonable results.

Large, complex problems can be broken down into smaller, more manageable components.

Demonstrate how the process of decomposition is iterative and used to solve problems.

Formulate possible solutions based on the decomposition of a problem.

Abstraction is used to reduce complexity of larger problems by focusing on main ideas.

Describe how abstraction is central to computational thinking.

Identify and prioritize the most relevant parts of a problem while filtering out extraneous details.

Demonstrate different ways to represent key problem components.

Data can be represented in different ways for storage and exchange.

Identify different types of data that are exchanged and produced by computers (e.g., protocols).

Evaluate the trade-offs for how data elements are organized and where data are stored (e.g., PNG/GIF, structured/unstructured).

Compare and contrast various data structures/techniques for storing and processing data (e.g., arrays, lists, tables).

Many problems appropriate for solving with a computer are organized around patterns.

Provide multiple versions of data visualization in order to deepen problem analysis.

Interpret and analyze data to make informed decisions.

Data from a computer program can be visually presented to better understand and articulate solutions to a problem.

Provide multiple versions of data visualization in order to deepen problem analysis.

Analyze computer output in different forms (e.g., plain text, CSV, graphs, images).

Design visualizations using the appropriate tool(s) with the end user in mind.

Communication between computers (and over the internet) can be configured in many different ways and consist of several hardware and software components.

Describe key protocols and underlying processes of internet-based services, (e.g., https) and discuss impact of technology change on communication protocols.

Illustrate and describe the basic components and various network types and topologies (e.g., personal, local, metropolitan, and wide).

Explain the difference between decimal, hexadecimal, octal and binary number formats and how they are used in computing environments.

Computer hardware, the lowest level of a computer system, consists of many different parts, each providing a specialized function.

Explain the difference between memory and disk storage, internal and external storage, Random Access Memory (RAM), flash, cloud.

Explain how to maintain safety when working on PCs, e.g., electromagnetic precautions.

Describe how computing devices are engineered for fault tolerance and reliability, and identify potential sources of weakness (e.g., redundant power supplies, RAID, SAN/NAS connections).

Computer software is written for specific purposes.

Identify and differentiate between different kinds of software (e.g., operating systems vs. applications) and their purposes.

Explain what an operating system is, and why it is important for a computer or computing device (e.g., Linux, Windows, iOS).

Describe how software interacts with hardware to complete tasks.

Systems thinking is a way of holistically examining the various components and use cases that go into a given design.

Explain the integration of hardware, software and network communications components to create a networked system.

Summarize security approaches using a systems approach perspective.

Stakeholder considerations drive system design.

Identify stakeholder’s problems/needs.

Articulate design requirements back to the stakeholder.

Illustrate options for considerations and develop conceptual model.

Perform system analysis based on stakeholder considerations.

Robust computing systems require multiple methods of recovery.

Explain the ways an organization would continue to operate in light of a systems failure.

Describe elements of an effective backup system.

Compare backup systems for computer users, or a network.

List the various backup methodologies (e.g., full, differential), and why one would pick one over the other, or use all.

Robust computing systems require data protection.

Identify examples of threats to systems and data.

Describe the process by which intruders gain entry into a production system (e.g., reconnaissance).

Describe and compare methods to test/validate how well systems and data are protected.

Investigate different career pathways relating to systems security.

The creation of a computer program requires a design process.

Analyze and apply a design methodology to identify constraints and requirements of an identified problem.

Utilize tools and resources such as pseudocode, flowcharts, wireframes, etc., as part of the design process.

Determine and use graphical or text-based languages.

Understand and apply core programming concepts.

The process of programming involves solving computational problems.

Write code per selected design.

Create code comments to communicate to other developers and ensure documentation of code.

Use various troubleshooting and debugging techniques to improve code.

Create appropriate variables to store and retrieve data.

Collaborative tools, methods and strategies can be used to design, develop and update computational artifacts.

Determine when to use standard software tools like APIs, libraries, version control repositories, etc.

Integrate collaborative strategies to improve programming outputs.

Identify and analyze a variety of collaborative tools (e.g., commenting, development repositories) in order to determine the appropriateness for intended use.

Identify strategies such as peer reviews to test and refine artifacts in development.

Stakeholder-based design requirements and feedback are essential to a quality computational product or service.

Understand and apply principles of stakeholder-based design.

Guide/advise stakeholders on strategies and solutions best suited for their problem (i.e., type of platform).

Construct effective methods for gathering feedback from stakeholders.

Respond to feedback from stakeholders to improve computing solutions.

Create and share product support documentation for potential users.

Articulate lessons learned as a result of the design and creation process.

Computing solutions can have impacts (personal, ethical, social, economic and cultural) based on their use.

Investigate and understand privacy, security and protection laws.

Articulate the importance of securing personal data information on encrypted storage systems.

Identify and analyze current events to ensure the safety, security and well-being of all potential stakeholders and end users.

Identify influential computing innovations, and identify the beneficial and harmful effects they have had, or could have, on society, economy and culture.

Discuss and explain how diversity of design and issues of accessibility impact a wide range of users.

Demonstrate ways to improve the accessibility of computational technologies and artifacts.

Security and software licensing can present constraints and restrictions in computational design and development.

Describe how software licensing influences program development.

Investigate and develop solutions that discourage online software piracy.

Explore and integrate security measures such as encryption, authentication and verification strategies to secure developed computer programs.

Research and abide by intellectual property laws and patents.

Confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) are core principles of cybersecurity.

Define confidentiality, integrity and availability in the context of cybersecurity, and share a basic example of each.

Analyze real-life scenarios to identify which of the core principles are at risk or have been compromised and explain why.

Critically analyze case studies of cyber security incidents and identify where breaches in CIA have occurred.

Research real-world examples of cyber security breaches and share their findings, focusing on how CIA principles were impacted.

Encryption is fundamental to data security and privacy and is important in cybersecurity.

Compare and contrast applications based on their privacy policies and permissions, evaluating the impact on individuals and society.

Synthesize understanding of privacy practices to inform peers on healthy vs harmful practices.

Explain the individual risks of a data breach to an organization housing personal data. (Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through CISA Grant given to Cyber.org, 2021)

Compare and contrast the harms and benefits between ensuring privacy and enabling convenience and usability (Dark, Daugherty, Emry, Massey, & Peyrot, 2021)

Compare and contrast situations where one would want to be anonymous vs. identifiable and provide an example where one party desires anonymity but the other party desires clear identification.

Discuss and/or give an example of how privacy decisions made today may have negative implications in the future.

Describe one or more systems used on a regular basis which reveals information about a user’s pattern of life.

Explain why trying every possible combination (a brute force attack) will always break encryption if given enough time.

Describe ways encryption is used today.

Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of an encryption method in context.

Anticipate, identify and understand cyber security threats from the prospective adversary (attacker) and incorporate this into a security risk profile that takes into consideration the potential damage of a compromise vs the cost and inconvenience of implementing security.

Build a list of common threats students face and explain how an adversary may try to exploit those threats (adversarial thinking).

Analyze real-life scenarios to identify which of the core principles are at risk or have been compromised and explain why. (This covers “Demonstrate adversarial thinking for a given problem. example: attack trees”)

Explain how social behaviors and human factors can impact the cybersecurity of a system design. (Dark, Daugherty, Emry, Massey, & Peyrot, 2021)

Evaluate digital habits and practices to identify potential risks and predict how an adversary might seek to exploit vulnerabilities.

Analyze the motives of threat actors (Dark, Daugherty, Emry, Massey, & Peyrot, 2021)

Explain the variety of ways in which a security vulnerability could be created and exploited (for example: system error, social engineering, or input by an adversary).

Explain the difference between protecting against a random failure versus protecting against an intentional attack.

Give an example of a system where the risk of a potential incident requires a high degree of security and an example where the risk of a potential compromise requires only a minor degree of security.

AI tools are used for solving real-world problems.

Explain the evolution of AI, the scope and limitations of current AI and the future of AI.

Describe the purpose of different AI tools.

Explain the potential ethical dilemmas and biases in developing, training, and using AI tools.

Distinguish between AI and general computer programming.

Describe real-world applications of AI, such as personal assistants, recommendation systems, advertising systems, and autonomous vehicles.

Examine the differences between narrow AI and general AI, and their implications.

Discuss the use of the term “learning” with respect to specific AI tools and techniques.

Evaluate the kinds of data that can be used for AI problems and how they are used to train AI models.

Evaluate, select and use appropriate AI technology to solve a problem.

AI tools can be applied to produce novel creations and inspire creativity.

Develop and evaluate an AI-based solution to address a real-world objective.

Describe how AI can create novel outcomes by identifying patterns in data from the domain of interest.

Using AI tools requires evaluation of their results and assessment of their appropriateness for specific applications.

Explain the potential limitations of AI; for example, insufficient or inaccurate data inputs, inability of the system to recognize its own errors, and flaws in the underlying algorithms.

Evaluate the results produced by an AI tool before using it.

Discuss challenges and considerations of AI with respect to personal privacy.

Evaluate the implications of AI on job markets and its role in automation and productivity.

Recognize the importance and challenges of human oversight in AI decision-making.

Recognize the purpose and suitability of AI tools for achieving specific outcomes.

The development of AI systems can create ethical and legal dilemmas that will need to be resolved.

Identify arguments regarding the dilemmas created by advances in artificial intelligence.

Explain why computational artifacts can be attributed to an AI system rather than its initial programmers.

Describe the "Turing Test" and its implications for distinguishing human and artificial intelligences.

Articulate arguments against "artificial intelligence" qualifying as "actual intelligence" and counterarguments that refute those specific arguments.

Digital citizenship involves multiple practices intended to promote safety, well-being respectful discourse, ethical use of information, and positive relationships.

Describe how active and passive social media use can lead to positive and negative feelings.

Identify research trends related to the health impact of screen time.

Brainstorm strategies for navigating challenging relationships in a digital environment.

Learn strategies for civil discourse in a digital environment and apply them to a scenario involving uncivil discourse.

Define "digital reputation," and identify examples of social media posts that can have a positive or negative effect.

Explain why you should ask permission before posting pictures or information about someone else.

Identify strategies for protecting their privacy, including opting out of specific features and analyzing app or website privacy policies and terms of service.

Define "misinformation" and explore the consequences of spreading misinformation online.

Explore examples of confirmation bias, particularly related to news and online information.