The concepts and processes provide connections between and among traditional scientific disciplines. The concepts and processes are fundamental and comprehensive. The concepts and processes are understandable and usable by people who will implement science programs. The concepts and processes can be expressed and experienced in a developmentally appropriate manner during K-12 science education. Systems and subsystems, the nature of models, and conservation are fundamental concepts and processes included in this standard.
Young students tend to interpret phenomena separately rather than in terms of a system.
Force, for example, is perceived as a property of an object rather than the result of interacting bodies. Students do not recognize the differences between parts and whole systems, but view them as similar. Therefore, teachers of science need to help students recognize the properties of objects, as emphasized in grade-level content standards, while helping them to understand systems. As another example, students in middle school and high school view models as physical copies of reality and not as conceptual representations. Teachers should help students understand that models are developed and tested by comparing the model with observations of reality.