Standards

  • General Scope
    • This two-week, web-based, introductory North Dakota Energy curriculum is intended for use by fourth grade students and is based on fourth grade North Dakota Content Standards in Science and Social Studies, as well as Common Core Standards for fourth grade. The learner objectives for this curriculum meet these standards and provide the students with a basic introduction to North Dakota energy.
      • The content of this course, as viewed by students, will not specify a grade level; therefore, it may be used in any intermediate grade.
      • A two-week, web-based eighth grade North Dakota Energy curriculum will also be developed as part of the total Energy Curriculum Project.
    • The primary goal of this energy curriculum is to provide students with information on the following:
      • 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 following topics will be included in this curriculum:
      • Coal
      • Petroleum
      • Natural Gas
      • Wind
      • Geothermal
      • Hydro
      • Solar
      • Biofuels
      • Recovered Energy
    • Infused within the curriculum will be topic-specific activities, as well as general activities. The activities will be 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 will be 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. will be offered.
      • This curriculum will provide a starting point for engaging students in appreciating the significance of the resources in their own "back yard" and the impact that North Dakota energy production has had and will continue to have on their lives, on the nation, and in the world.
  • Learner Objectives
    • As a result of the completion of the two-week energy curriculum, the learner will be able to
      • Identify the major energy resources in North Dakota.
      • Demonstrate basic knowledge of the types of energy produced in North Dakota.
      • Show an understanding of how energy is used and its effect on the lives of every person in North Dakota.
      • Recognize the numerous career opportunities related to energy in North Dakota.
  • North Dakota Science Content and Achievement Standards – Grade 4
    4.2.1
    Review and ask questions about the scientific investigations of others.
    4.2.2
    Conduct simple investigations to answer questions based on observations
    4.2.3
    Use scientific tools during simple investigations.
    4.5.3
    Use characteristics to classify Earth's materials (e.g., rocks, soil).
    4.6.1
    Evaluate the effects of technology on people and the environment.
    4.7.2
    Identify ways in which science and technology have greatly improved human lives.
    4.8.1
    Identify a variety of careers in the field of science.
  • North Dakota Social Studies Content and Achievement Standards – Grade 4
    4.1.1
    Interpret and compare maps.
    4.1.4
    Interpret current events using print and electronic media.
    4.2.11
    Describe the effects of changes in industry, agriculture, and technology in North Dakota.
    4.3.2
    Identify ways that natural resources contribute to the economy of the local community and North Dakota.
    4.3.4
    Identify principal exports of North Dakota.
    4.5.3
    Identify the location and characteristics of significant features of North Dakota.
    4.5.4
    Explain how the physical environment affects human activity in North Dakota.
    4.5.5
    Identify different patterns of land use in North Dakota.
  • 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 4
    RI.4.1
    Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
    RI.4.3
    Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
    RI.4.4
    Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
    RI.4.5
    Describe the overall structure of events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.
    RI.4.7
    Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively, and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
    RI.4.9
    Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
    W.4.1
    Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
    W.4.2
    Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
    W.4.9
    Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
    SL.4.2
    Paraphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
    SL. 4.3
    Identify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points.
    L.4.4
    Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.