Final answer:
The NGSS use Crosscutting Concepts to connect concepts and help students make connections between different domains of science.
Step-by-step explanation:
The NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) use Crosscutting Concepts in a new way by emphasizing their integration throughout the science curriculum. Crosscutting Concepts are fundamental ideas or principles that can be applied across different scientific disciplines. They connect concepts and help students make connections between different domains of science.
For example, one Crosscutting Concept is Patterns. Students can explore patterns in biological systems, like the patterns in the structure of a leaf, and then apply that understanding to patterns in physical systems, like the patterns in the motion of objects. By doing so, students develop a deeper understanding of how different scientific disciplines are related.
Another example is Cause and Effect. Students can study cause and effect relationships in chemical reactions and then apply that understanding to cause and effect relationships in geological processes. This helps students see the interconnectedness of different scientific phenomena.