Standards

  • General Scope
    • This two-week, web-based, North Dakota Energy curriculum is intended for use by eighth grade students and has been created to align with eighth grade North Dakota Content and Achievement Standards in Science and Social Studies, as well as Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects. The learner objectives for this curriculum meet these standards and provide the students with practical knowledge concerning North Dakota energy.
      • The content of this course, as viewed by students, does not specify a grade level; therefore, it may be used in any intermediate or middle school grade.
    • The primary goal of this energy curriculum is to provide students with information to advance the following concepts, which were introduced in North Dakota Energy: Level One:
      • What the energy resources of North Dakota are;
      • The types of energy produced in North Dakota;
      • How and where this energy is used;
      • What benefits are provided as a result of the energy industry;
      • Career opportunities available in the energy field.
    • The curriculum is divided into the following five modules:
      • Module 1: Introduction to North Dakota Energy
      • Module 2: Petroleum & Natural Gas
      • Module 3: Coal
      • Module 4: Wind, Hydro, Solar
      • Module 5: Biomass/Biofuels, Geothermal, Recovered Energy
    • Infused within the curriculum are topic-specific activities, as well as general activities. The activities are predominantly learner-directed and aimed at what the students should know, understand, and be able to do in order to get as much as possible from the information presented.
      • Since this curriculum takes a learner-directed approach with teacher facilitation, assessments have been incorporated into the activities. This gives the teacher discretion in choosing activities to target specific goals in available time frames.
    • A list of resources procured from North Dakota energy entities is included to enrich the content and activities. In addition, other educational web links, videos, energy kits, photos, opportunities for field trips or interviews, presenters, etc. are offered.
    • This curriculum reviews and expands on the content presented in Level One to enrich the students' knowledge and appreciation of North Dakota energy production and its impact in the state, the nation, and the world.
  • Learner Objectives
    • As a result of the completion of this two-week energy curriculum, the learner will be able to
      • Identify and describe the major energy resources in North Dakota;
      • Show an understanding of how North Dakota energy is produced and distributed;
      • Explain the impact of North Dakota energy in the state, the nation, and the world;
      • Recognize career opportunities related to energy in North Dakota.
  • North Dakota Science Content and Achievement Standards – Grade 8
    8.1.1
    Organize changes that occur sequentially in systems.
    8.2.2
    Use evidence to generate descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models.
    8.2.4
    Design and conduct a scientific investigation.
    8.4.1
    Identify the evidence of biological evolution as found in the fossil record.
    8.5.2
    Understand the rock cycle.
    8.5.3
    Explain the water cycle.
    8.5.4
    Explain how landforms are changed.
    8.5.7
    Explain the changes Earth has undergone over geologic time.
    8.7.1
    Explain the interaction of science and technology with social issues.
  • North Dakota Social Studies Content and Achievement Standards – Grade 8
    8.1.1
    Interpret current North Dakota thematic maps to identify where people live and work, and how land is used.
    8.1.2
    Use various primary and secondary resources to analyze and interpret information.
    8.3.3
    Evaluate how economic opportunities impact North Dakota and other regions.
    8.3.4
    Describe factors governing economic decision making in North Dakota and other regions.
    8.5.3
    Compare human characteristics of places and regions.
    8.6.1
    Explain ways technology contributes to the spread of ideas, values, and behavioral patterns between societies and regions.
  • North Dakota English Language Arts & Literacy Content Standards Based on the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects – Grade 8
    RI.2
    Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including the relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
    RI.4
    Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.
    RH.7
    Integrate visual information with other information in print and digital texts.
    WHST.2
    Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
    WHST.9
    Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.