Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations

Earth and Space Systems

Physical Science
Life Science
Engineering Design

Earth and Space Systems

High School NGSS (2015) Performance
Topic
Expectations (PE)
Develop a model based on
evidence to illustrate the life
span of the sun and the role of
Space Systems HS-ESS1-1
nuclear fusion in the suns core to
release energy in the form of
radiation.
Construct an explanation of the
Big Bang theory based
on astronomical evidence of light
Space Systems HS-ESS1-2
spectra, motion of distant
galaxies, and composition of
matter in the universe.
Use mathematical or
computational representations to
Space Systems HS-ESS1-4
predict the motion of orbiting
objects in the solar system.
Portions of PE Addressed by
Associated PhET Simulation (Note: Most simulations
Simulation will apply to only a part of a lesson
designed around an NGSS PE)
Isotopes and Atomic Understand the nucleus and natural
Mass abundance of isotopes in the sun.
Blackbody Spectrum Color vs. temperature of stars.
Understand light interference patterns
Wave Interference for interpreting what is seen through a
diffraction grating.
How do masses and initial velocities
My Solar System affect orbital radius? (Extension: How
does this relate to dark matter?)
Use qualitative observations to
Gravity and Orbits determine the relationships between
mass, velocity, and orbital motion.

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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations

Evaluate evidence of the past and

Explore features at plate boundaries and
current movements of continental
plate movements that cause them.
History of Earth HS-ESS1-5 and oceanic crust and the theory Plate Tectonics
Compare with global maps of Earth
of plate tectonics to explain the
features.
ages of crustal rocks.
Apply scientific reasoning and
evidence from ancient Earth
materials, meteorites, and other Radioactive Dating Explore and measure decay rates,
History of Earth HS-ESS1-6
planetary surfaces to construct an Game radiometric dating, fossil layers.
account of Earths formation and
early history.
Develop a model to illustrate
how Earths internal and surface
Observe glacier properties and
processes operate at different
History of Earth HS-ESS2-1 Glaciers movements with resulting changes to
spatial and temporal scales to
land formations.
form continental and ocean-floor
features.
Take simulated data to examine how an
increase in greenhouse gases causes a
The Greenhouse rise in global temperatures that melts
Effect glacial ice, which reduces the amount of
Analyze geoscience data to make
sunlight reflected from Earth's surface,
the claim that one change to
increasing surface temperatures.
Earths Systems HS-ESS2-2 Earth's surface can create
Apply observations and measurements
feedbacks that cause changes to
of fluid flow rates and pressure at flow
other Earth systems.
Fluid Pressure and restrictions to how dammed rivers
Flow increase groundwater recharge, decrease
sediment transport, and increase coastal
erosion.
Investigate solubility and concentration
Plan and conduct an investigation
Salts and Solubility to enhance investigation of chemical
of the properties of water and its
Earths Systems HS-ESS2-5 weathering.
effects on Earth materials and
Investigate friction as a mechanism of
surface processes. Friction (HTML5)
mechanical weathering.

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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations

Construct an argument based on

Activity "Is Natural Selection Fur-real?"
evidence about the simultaneous
Earths Systems HS-ESS2-7 Natural Selection examines evolution in different
coevolution of Earths systems
environments (arctic vs. equator).
and life on Earth.
Use a model to describe
how variations in the flow of Use PhET greenhouse model to examine
The Greenhouse
Weather and Climate HS-ESS2-4 energy into and out of Earths the effects of atmospheric changes on
Effect
systems result in changes in climate.
climate.
Analyze geoscience data and the
results from global climate
models to make an evidence-
The Greenhouse Use the simulation along with
Weather and Climate HS-ESS3-5 based forecast of the current rate
Effect geoscience data to make predictions.
of global or regional climate
change and associated future
impacts to Earth systems.

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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations

Physical Science

Portions of PE Addressed by
High School NGSS (2015) Performance Associated PhET Simulation (Note: Most simulations
Topic
Expectations (PE) Simulation will apply to only a part of a lesson
designed around an NGSS PE)
Investigate the relationship between
Build an Atom numbers of particles, element, atomic
Use the periodic table as a model
(HTML5) mass and atomic number, net charge,
to predict the relative properties
Structure and and number of valence electrons.
HS-PS1-1 of elements based on the patterns
Properties of Matter Could be used in conjunction with Build
of electrons in the outermost
Build a Molecule an Atom to investigate the relationship
energy level of atoms.
(Java) between valence electrons and how
atoms combine to form actual elements.
Develop models to illustrate the Investigate alpha decay, activation
changes in the composition of the Alpha Decay (Java) energy, half-life, and energy
Structure and nucleus of the atom and the transformations.
HS-PS1-8
Properties of Matter energy released during the Beta Decay (Java) Investigate beta decay, and half-life.
processes of fission, fusion, and Investigate nuclear fission and how a
radioactive decay. Nuclear Fission (Java)
nuclear power plant operates
Apply scientific principles and
evidence to provide an
Provide an explanation about the effects
explanation about the effects of
Reactions & Rates of changing the temperature or
Chemical Reactions HS-PS1-5 changing the temperature or
(Java) concentration of the reacting particles on
concentration of the reacting
the rate at which a reaction occurs.
particles on the rate at which a
reaction occurs.
Refine the design of a chemical
Change concentrations, energy of
system by specifying a change in
Reactions & Rates reactions, temperatures, types of
Chemical Reactions HS-PS1-6 conditions that would produce
(Java) reactions and see changing
increased amounts of products at
concentrations
equilibrium.

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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations
Use mathematical representations
to support the claim that
Chemical Reactions HS-PS1-7 atoms, and therefore mass, are
conserved during a chemical
reaction.
Analyze data to support the claim
that Newtons second law of
motion describes the
Forces and
HS-PS2-1 mathematical relationship among
Interactions
the net force on a macroscopic
object, its mass, and its
acceleration.
Use mathematical representations
to support the claim that the total
Forces and
HS-PS2-2 momentum of a system of objects
Interactions
is conserved when there is no net
force on the system.
Use mathematical representations
of Newtons Law of Gravitation
Forces and and Coulombs Law to describe
HS-PS2-4
Interactions and predict the gravitational and
electrostatic forces between
objects.
Use mathematics and visual
Balancing Chemical
representations to balance chemical
Equations (HTML5)
equations.
See that atoms are conserved in an
Reactions & Rates
equilibrium situation where there are
(Java)
unreacted particles.
Forces and Motion Can use to meet all parts of the PE.
Basics (HTML5) Investigate meaning of net force,
Force and Motion observe effects of non-zero net force,
(Java) make measurements of variables to
Ramp: Force and determine or verify the relationship
Motion F(net) = ma.
Can use to meet all parts of the PE.
Collision Lab (Flash) Qualitative and quantitative analysis of
conservation of momentum.
Quantitative representation of
Gravity Force Lab
gravitational force between two masses
(HTML5)
at variable distances.
Balloons and Static
Qualitative introduction to Coulomb
Electricity (HTML5)
forces.
Electric Field Hockey
Quantitative representation of
Charges and Fields electrostatic force and fields around
charged bodies.
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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations
Plan and conduct an investigation
to provide evidence that an
Forces and electric current can produce a
HS-PS2-5
Interactions magnetic field and that a changing
magnetic field can produce an
electric current.
Create a computational model to
calculate the change in the energy
of one component in a system
Energy HS-PS3-1 when the change in energy of the
other component(s) and energy
flows in and out of the system are
known.
Qualitative introduction with evidence
that a changing magnetic field can
Faraday's Law
produce an electric current. Could be
(HTML5)
used by students to get ideas for their
own investigation with real parts.
Tabs "Electromagnet" and
"Transformer" provide a qualitative or
Faraday's quantitative platform for evidence that
Electromagnetic Lab an electric current can produce a
(Java) magnetic field. Could be used by
students to get ideas for their own
investigation with real parts.
Qualitative introduction with evidence
that a changing magnetic field can
Generator (Java) produce an electric current. Could be
used by students to get ideas for their
own investigation with real parts.
Qualitative introduction to energy
Energy Skate Park
changes, with bar graphs, pie chart,
Basics (HTML5)
relative masses, and relative speeds.
Can use to meet all parts of the PE.
Energy Skate Park
Similar to the above, but includes
(Java)
quantitative graphs.
Qualitative introduction to energy
changes, with bar graphs, relative
Pendulum Lab masses, and relative speeds. Also can
provide data for quantitative
computation
Qualitative introduction to energy
Masses & Springs changes, with bar graphs, relative
masses, and relative speeds.
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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations
Develop and use models to
illustrate that energy at the
macroscopic scale can be
accounted for as a combination of
Energy HS-PS3-2
energy associated with the
motions of particles (objects) and
energy associated with the
relative positions of particles.
Design, build, and refine a
device that works within given
Energy HS-PS3-3 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
Energy HS-PS3-4
a closed system results in a more
uniform energy distribution
among the components in the
system (second law of
thermodynamics).
Use mathematical representations
to support a
Waves and
claim regarding relationships
Electromagnetic HS-PS4-1
among the frequency, wavelength,
Radiation
and speed of waves traveling in
various media.
Energy Skate Park
Basics (HTML5) Can use to meet all parts of the PE.
Observe total energy and compare to
Pendulum Lab kinetic and gravitational potential as
skater moves to different positions.
.
Masses & Springs
Student designs and builds an energy
transformation system. A wide variety
of energy inputs and outputs are
Energy Forms and
available. Thermal energy investigation
Changes (Java)
with various specific heat examples also
available. Meets the PE except for
"refine".
Can use to meet all parts of the PE.
Thermal energy investigation: Place
objects of various specific heats in
Energy Forms and
contact, then add or remove heat.
Changes (Java)
Measure temperature. (Try iron bock on
top of brick, thermometer on each, heat
the brick from below!)
Can use to meet all parts of the PE.
Wave on a String Measure period, wavelength, vary
(HTML5) tension (media). Can be used to develop
or verify mathematical representations.
Can use to meet all parts of the PE.
Measure period, wavelength, vary
Sound (Java)
density of air. Can be used to develop or
verify mathematical representations.
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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations
Evaluate questions about the
Waves and
advantages of using a digital
Electromagnetic HS-PS4-2
transmission and storage of
Radiation
information.
Evaluate the claims, evidence,
and reasoning behind the idea that
Waves and electromagnetic radiation can be
Electromagnetic HS-PS4-3 described either by a wave model
Radiation 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
Waves and
materials of the effects that
Electromagnetic HS-PS4-4
different frequencies of
Radiation
electromagnetic radiation have
when absorbed by matter.
Communicate technical
information about how some
Waves and technological devices use the
Electromagnetic HS-PS4-5 principles of wave behavior and
Radiation wave interactions with matter to
transmit and capture information
and energy.
Introduction to analog signals prior to
Radio Waves &
study of digital signals. Examine the
Electromagnetic
production, transmission, and reception
Fields (Java)
of radio waves.
Investigate interference patterns
Wave Interference produced by water waves, sound waves,
(Java) and light waves (evidence for the wave
model).
Investigate the particle nature of light
Photoelectric Effect
energy through the photoelectric effect
(Java)
(evidence for the particle model).
Investigate photoelectric effect: e.g. how
changing the intensity of light will affect
the current and the energy of electrons,
how changing the wavelength of light
Photoelectric Effect will affect the current and the energy of
(Java) electrons, how changing the voltage of
light will affect the current and the
energy of electrons, how changing the
material of the target will affect the
current and the energy of electrons
Interaction of microwaves (and other
Microwaves (Java)
frequencies) with water molecules.
Radio Waves & Production (at the antenna),
Electromagnetic transmission, and reception (at the
Fields (Java) antenna) of radio waves.
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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations
Life Science
High School NGSS (2015) Performance
Topic
Expectations (PE)
Ask questions to clarify
relationships about the role of
Inheritance and DNA and chromosomes in coding
HS-LS3-1
Variation of Traits the instructions for characteristic
traits passed from parents to
offspring.
Apply concepts of statistics and
Inheritance and probability to explain the
HS-LS3-3
Variation of Traits variation and distribution of
expressed traits in a population.
Use mathematical representations
to support and revise explanations
Interdependent
based on evidence about factors
Relationships in HS-LS2-2
affecting biodiversity and
Ecosystems
populations in ecosystems of
different scales.
Design, evaluate, and refine a
Interdependent
solution for reducing the impacts
Relationships in HS-LS2-7
of human activities on the
Ecosystems
environment and biodiversity.
Portions of PE Addressed by
Associated PhET Simulation (Note: Most simulations
Simulation will apply to only a part of a lesson
designed around an NGSS PE)
Gene Expression - Clarifies the role of DNA and
The Basics (Java) chromosomes in coding for traits.
Plinko Probability
Examine the principles of probability.
(Flash)
Investigate automatic and manual curve
Curve Fitting (Flash)
fitting for data. Linear and polynomial.
Least-Squares Investigate the meaning of the r^2 value
Regression (HTML5) obtained from a least-squares regression.
Use mathematical representations to
Natural Selection support and revise explanations based on
(Java) evidence about factors affecting
biodiversity.
Could use as an introduction to the
Natural Selection
impacts of predators and food supplies
(Java)
(in general) on species.
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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations

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
Natural Selection and variation of individuals in a Natural Selection Investigate the effect of limited
HS-LS4-2
Evolution species due to mutation and (Java) resources on a species.
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
Natural Selection and explanations that organisms with Plinko Probability
HS-LS4-3 Investigate probability.
Evolution an advantageous heritable (Flash)
trait tend to increase in proportion
to organisms lacking this trait.
Evaluate the evidence supporting
claims that changes in
environmental conditions may
Natural Selection and result in: (1) increases in the Natural Selection Investigate how changing environmental
HS-LS4-5
Evolution number of individuals of some (Java) conditions affect a species.
species, (2) the emergence of new
species over time, and (3) the
extinction of other species.

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 Alignment of PhET Simulations and High School NGSS Performance Expectations

Engineering Design

Portions of PE Addressed by
High School NGSS (2015) Performance Associated PhET Simulation (Note: Most simulations
Topic
Expectations (PE) Simulation will apply to only a part of a lesson
designed around an NGSS PE)
Design a solution to a complex
real-world problem by breaking it
The Greenhouse Investigate and isolate individual causes
Engineering Design HS-ETS1-2 down into smaller, more
Effect (Java) of the greenhouse effect.
manageable problems that can be
solved through engineering.
Use a computer simulation to
model the impact of proposed
solutions to a complex real-world Investigate the greenhouse effect prior to
The Greenhouse
Engineering Design HS-ETS1-4 problem with numerous criteria developing solutions, then investigate
Effect (Java)
and constraints on interactions preliminary solutions.
within and between systems
relevant to the problem.

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