This document represents the content of science education in California and includes the essential skills and knowledge students will need to be scientifically literate citizens in the 21st century. The standards include grade-level specific content for kindergarten through grade 8. A significant feature is the focus on earth science in the 6th grade, life science in the 7th grade, and physical science in the 8th grade. The standards for grades 9-12 are divided into four content strands: physics; chemistry; biology/life sciences; and earth sciences. The Investigation and Experimentation strand describes a progressive set of expectations for each grade from kindergarten through grade 8, and one set of investigation and experimentation standards for grades 9-12. (Author/SOE)