For Project 2061's Benchmarks for Science Literacy:
Please read Chapter 4 - The Physical Setting, (read selectively - see especially Sections D through G, for grades 9 - 12).
Also read Chapter 15 - The Research Base (this is a short chapter; please read all sections). You may read the material in the hyperlinks at the bottom of this web page selectively. (e.g., 1.THE NATURE OF SCIENCE; 4.THE PHYSICAL SETTING;10.HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES; 11.COMMON THEMES; or12.HABITS OF MIND)
Come to class prepared to describe what you have found.
For the Illinois Learning Standards:
Please read "Introduction to the Standards." After you have read the entire introduction, return to the section of the introduction entitled "Navigating through the Framework," and follow the hyperlink to the science learning area. Read the introduction for the science learning area, paying particular attention to the Applications of Learning. Then, at the bottom of this page, follow the appropriate hyperlinks to review the pertinent parts (e.g., early and late high school) of Goals 11 -13 of the Illinois Learning Standards. Come to class prepared to describe what you have found.
Illinois Learning Standards for Science (only) (124 kB PDF)
Science Performance Descriptors (gr 6-12) (284 kB PDF)