State and National Standards

In the Development of the STEP program, teachers and FEMA staff with previous teaching experience made a cross section of common content standards between all New England states as well as national standards for the 4th and 5th grade. STEP lessons were designed to cover various standards with malleability to fit into various different subject areas, including:

  • Math
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Language Arts
  • Arts
  • Health

Language Arts- Writing + Reading

  • NL-ENG.K-12.6 Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions, media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique and discuss print and non print texts.
  • NL-ENG.K-12.9 Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.
  • NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying language skills, specifically writing of written language to accomplish a purpose.
  • NA-T.5-8 1 Script writing by the creation of improvisations and scripted scenes based on personal experience, imagination
  • W-5-2.2 Summarizing ideas.
  • W5-2.3 Connecting what has been read/told to prior knowledge by referring to relevant ideas.
  • W-5-10 Students use pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing and critiquing to produce final drafts of written products.
  • W-5-11.2 Sharing thoughts, observations or impressions.
  • W-5-11.3 Generating topics for writing.
  • R1.4 Reading and Responding Students communicate with others to create interpretations of written, oral and visual texts.
  • R1.42  Reading and Responding Students communicate with others to create interpretations of written, oral and visual text.
  • R5-3.1 Identifying synonyms, antonyms, homonyms/homophones, or shades of meaning.
  • R-4-4.2 Paraphrasing or summarizing key ideas/plot with major events sequenced, as appropriate to text.
  • R-5-3 Show breadth of vocabular knowledge through demonstrating understanding of word meanings/relationships.
  • R-5-3.2 Selecting appropriate words or explaining the use of words in context, including content specific vocabulary, words with multiple meanings, or precise vocabulary.
  • R5.35 Writing Genres, Traits and Crafts- Write an explanatory piece, building up to the most important point.
  • R-5-16.1 Comparing stories to related personal experience, prior knowledge, or to other stories and experiences.
  • R5.35 Writing Genres, Traits and Crafts- Write an explanatory piece, building up to the most important point.

Mathematics

  • M-5-1 Identifies and extends to specific cases a variety of patterns represented in models, tables, sequences, or in problem situations.
  • M-5-7.1Makes estimates in a given situation by identifying when estimation is appropriate, selecting the appropriate method of estimation, determining the level of accuracy, analyzing the effect, and evaluating the reasonableness of solutions.
  • M-5-7 Measures and uses units of measures appropriately and consistently, and makes conversions within systems when solving problems.
  • M-5-8 Applies properties of numbers and field properties to solve problems and to simplify computations
  • M-N&O 5.2 Demonstrates understanding of the relative magnitude of numbers.
  • M-G&M 5.2 Deomonstrates understanding of spacial relationships using location and position.
  • M-PRP 5.2 Uses models and draws conclusions as it relates to problem solving.
  • M506.4.10-12 Estimates, approximates, and Chooses Correct Tools.
  • S(DSP)5-3 Organizes and displays data.
  • M(PRP)5-2 Uses models and draws conclusions as it relates to problem solving.
  • M506.4.10 Estimates; recognizes that measurements are never exact;
  • M506.411. Approximation; Understand the usefulness of approximations.
  • S& M506.4.12 Correct Tools; Develop strategies for choosing correct tools of measurement.

Science

  • NSS-G.K-12.5 Students should understand how physical systems affect human systems.
  • NSS-G.K-12.6 Students should understand how to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.
  • SCI.5.2 Structure and function of organizms. Percieving and responding to information about the enviornment is criticcal to the survival of organisms.
  • S-DSP5.3 Organizes and displays data spacially. Uses models and draws conclusions.
  • S-4.a-d. Understanding the risks associated with natural hazards; Risk analysis considers the type of hazard and is used to determine the options for reducing or eliminating risk. Using systematic approaches to thinking critically about risks and benefits and makes personal and social decisions based on risks and benefits.

Social Studies

  • HS.E.8.5 Advocacy- Identify ways to work cooperatively in small groups when advocating for healthy individuals, families, and schools.

Health

  • NPH-H.5-8.1 Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention, including explaining relationship between positive health behaviors and the prevention of injury, illness, disease and premature death, analyze how environment and personal health are interrelated.
  • NPH-H.5-8.3 Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and reduce health risks- such as demonstrate strategies to improve or maintain personal and family health; develop injury prevention and management strategies for personal and family health, and demonstrate ways to avoid and reduce threatening situations.
  • NPH-H.5-8.5 Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health.
  • NPH-H.5-8.7 Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family and community health.
  • NS.5-8.6 Students should develop understanding of personal health; populations, resources, and environments; natural hazards; and risks and benefits.
  • HS.E.8.5 Advocacy- Identify ways to work cooperatively in small groups when advocating for healthy individuals, families, and schools.

Theater/Performing Arts

  • NA-T.5-8 1 Script writing by the creation of improvisations and scripted scenes based on personal experience, imagination.
  • NA-T.5-8 2 Acting by develioping basic acting skills to portray interactive characters in scripted scenes.
  • NA-T.5-8 4 Directing by organizing rehearsals for scripted scenes, demonstrating social, group and consensus skills.

Art

  • NA-VA.5-8 2Using knowledge of structures and functions
  • NA-VA.5-8 3 Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas.

Oral Communication

  • OC-5-1.1-1.5 In oral communication, students demonstrate interactive listening by following verbal instructions to perform specific tasks, to answer questions, or to solve problems.
  • OC-5-2.1-2.5 In oral communications, students make oral presentations by demonstrating skills required in interpersonal small group, and public exchanges, using verbal and nonverbal choices to convey cconsistent focus, telling stories, using and giving information with details, and providing a coherent conclusion, providing effective feedback to audiences, and using a variety of strategies to engage audience

Teachers gave the feedback that standards in the following categories were easily covered by using the STEP lessons in their classrooms:

  • Listening/Learning Comprehension
  • Number Sense
  • Number Patterns, relations
  • Problem Solving
  • Geometry
  • Questioning, Listening and Contributing
  • Oral Presentation