Do you ever get the question, “Why are we learning this? When am I ever going to use this in my life?” 

If you’re anything like me, some really inquisitive students will do precisely that. Here’s your go to answer on what you can say: “While you may not use this in your life [insert topic here] we are learning how to use science skills which will impact how you view and understand the world moving forward.”

When I first started teaching science, my lessons often felt like isolated experiments. They were fun but disconnected from each other. Students enjoyed the activities, but when I asked them to explain how one topic was similar to another, I got blank stares.

Then I discovered the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Specifically, their focus on Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs) and Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs). These frameworks helped me move beyond “cool activities” into purposeful, connected learning.

In this guide, we’ll explore what CCCs and SEPs are, why they matter, and most importantly, how to integrate them naturally into everyday lessons.

Crosscutting Concepts are the big ideas that bridge all areas of science, helping students connect what they learn across disciplines. NGSS identifies seven CCCs:

Patterns – Observing similarities and differences to make predictions.

Cause & Effect – Exploring relationships between actions and outcomes.

Scale, Proportion, & Quantity – Understanding size, time, and energy relationships.

Systems & System Models – Investigating how parts interact within a system.

Energy & Matter – Tracking how they flow and change in systems.

Structure & Function – Exploring how an object’s shape or structure relates to its purpose.

Stability & Change – Examining conditions that lead to change or stability.

Why They Matter:
Teaching CCCs helps students recognize patterns, identify connections, and transfer understanding across topics, from ecosystems to engineering.

Example:
In a weather unit, students might use Patterns to track daily temperature changes, identifying trends and predicting future conditions.

Science & Engineering Practices describe what scientists and engineers do to investigate, design, and solve problems. NGSS outlines eight SEPs:

• Asking Questions & Defining Problems

• Developing & Using Models

• Planning & Carrying Out Investigations

• Analyzing & Interpreting Data

• Using Mathematics & Computational Thinking

• Constructing Explanations & Designing Solutions

• Engaging in Argument from Evidence

• Obtaining, Evaluating, & Communicating Information

Why They Matter:
SEPs give students authentic experiences with scientific thinking and engineering design, building problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills.

Example:
In a bridge-building challenge, students use Developing & Using Models to sketch designs, Planning & Carrying Out Investigations to test structures, and Analyzing & Interpreting Data to improve their prototypes.

Who remembers that first week of science class when the teacher drills your on equipment and lab safety (when you’re not working on any labs?)? I remember it for being unremarkable and boring. So we’re going to fix that. 

Teaching the Science and Engineering Practices within a lesson along with highlighting the Cross Cutting Concepts does the following:

• Avoids checklists and disconnected teaching.

• Helps students see science as a process and not just facts.

• Builds higher-order thinking and transfer of knowledge across subjects.

Example:
During a lesson on plant growth, students use Cause & Effect (CCC) to explore how sunlight impacts sprouting and Analyzing & Interpreting Data (SEP) to record growth measurements. These are things you were most likely already doing but by naming them to students, they can see the work that goes into investigating the world around them and hopefully begin to make those lifelong connections.

How to Integrate the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices and the Cross Cutting Concepts Into Everyday Lessons

1. Use Anchor Phenomena – Start with a real-world question (e.g., “Why do some objects float while others sink?”). Need more phenomena to think about? [Check my post here.]
2. STEM Centers or Makerspaces – Include challenges that involve modeling, data analysis, or problem-solving.
3. Daily Question Prompts – Post CCC-focused questions like What patterns do you notice in our observations? What evidence supports your conclusion?
4. Morning Meeting Challenges – Quick activities like “Predict which object will roll faster and why” encourage SEP practice. Want more done for you? [See how I build in STEM to my morning meeting here.]

Practical Tips for K–5 Teachers

• Use visual aids like posters to make CCCs and SEPs part of classroom language.

• Keep activities low-prep but high-engagement.

• Build student reflection: End lessons with, “Which concept or practice did we use today?”

• Integrate across subjects: connect math to data analysis or literacy to communicating findings.

Resource: NGSS Posters

Want ready-to-print posters to keep these concepts visible and student-friendly?

👉 [Download your this set of NGSS Crosscutting Concepts & Science and Engineering Practices Posters here!]