Mission, Vision, Competencies, Standards, and Benchmarks

‣ Relate heredity of organisms to survival of populations.
‣ Explain how living things interact within an ecosystem and with the environment
at large.
‣ Relate how biotic and abiotic global changes have occurred in the past and will
continue to do so in the future.
‣ Explain how human choices today will affect the quality and quantity of life on Earth.
Earth and Space Science
‣ Relate internal and external sources of energy in the Earth system to processes and
cycles including water, rock and carbon cycles, dynamic processes and static
conditions, and earth-changing effects of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, erosion,
deposition of sediment, plate tectonics, and others.
‣ Describe relationships among Earth, other planets, other objects in the solar system
such as planets and their satellites, meteors, comets, asteroids, and reference stars
in other solar systems, or relationships of gravity and orbital motion, gravity and tides,
angle of sunlight and surface temperature, axial tilt and seasons.
‣ Relate changes in form or distribution of matter to cyclic and finite nature of
resources within the closed Earth system including solar energy, fossil fuels, effects
of human activity on natural, physical, or chemical changes in atmospheric quality,
hydrologic cycle, recycling of nutrients, generation of soils.
‣ Describe the nuclear reactions whereby stars transform matter into energy, leading to
the formation of all the elements in the universe and the composition of the galaxies.
‣ Explain how the red shift provides evidence for the expansion of the universe and
its age.
‣ Explain that humans are an integral part of the Earth’s system and the choices
humans make today impact natural systems in the future.
‣ Summarize the historical development of scientific theoriess and ideas and describe
emerging issues in the study of Earth and space sciences.
Science and Technology
‣ Evaluate scientific evidence critically and understand the relationship between
science and technology.
‣ Use technology to acquire, analyze, and communicate information.
‣ Predict how human choices today will determine the quality and quantity of life
on Earth.
‣ Understand ethical issues related to technology use and operate within a Christian
perspective and ethical framework.
Theological Integration
‣ Recognize that science plays a profound role in personal and social perspectives
relating to natural resources, environmental quality, health, hazards, and global
challenges utilizing the biblical directive to be good stewards from a scientific and
Christian perspective.
‣ Recognize that science is a human endeavor where people interpret scientific
knowledge and ethical conduct based on historical context and their personal faith
and beliefs.
‣ Understand God’s revelation in such verses as: “Ever since the creation of the world
His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived
in the things that have been made.” [Rom 1:19-20] As well: Gen.1,2; Job 38-
41; Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 24:1-2.
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