Seven lenses for reasoning
Crosscutting Concepts
Use recurring lenses to connect physical, life, Earth, and engineering ideas across the year.
01
The seven lenses
Patterns; cause and effect; scale, proportion, and quantity; systems and system models; energy and matter; structure and function; and stability and change help students organize evidence across domains.
- Name the lens after students begin using it.
- Ask how the lens changes a model or explanation.
- Revisit the same lens at different spatial and temporal scales.
02
What counts as evidence
A student does more than mention “systems” or “patterns.” Their product uses the concept to choose a boundary, compare cases, trace a transfer, explain stability, or justify a prediction.
Professional review remains essential
Adapt this guidance to district policy, adopted materials, actual learners, available facilities, and current authoritative sources.