NGSS Alignment

How E.D.E.N. supports modern science education and inquiry-based learning.

The E.D.E.N. Education Edition is designed from the start to support the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
These standards guide science teaching across the United States and emphasize:

  • real-world scientific phenomena
  • inquiry and investigation
  • modeling and systems thinking
  • cause-and-effect relationships
  • data analysis and interpretation
  • understanding Earth systems in an integrated way

E.D.E.N. was built to make these ideas visual, interactive, and accessible for both teachers and students.

Why NGSS Alignment Matters

NGSS asks students not to memorize science, but to think like scientists:

  • Ask questions
  • Build models
  • Analyze data
  • Identify patterns
  • Understand systems and interactions
  • Use evidence to explain phenomena

E.D.E.N. directly supports these outcomes by placing learners inside a dynamic, data-driven planetary system where they can observe, manipulate, and explain real Earth-science behaviors.

Core NGSS Dimensions Addressed

NGSS is built on three dimensions.
E.D.E.N. supports all three:

1. Science & Engineering Practices (SEPs)

E.D.E.N. provides rich opportunities for students to:

  • Develop and use models
  • Students explore a scientific model of an entire planet using real simulation fields.
  • Analyze and interpret data
  • Overlays, visualizers, and inspector tools support real data analysis.
  • Construct explanations
  • Students explain observable phenomena using simulation evidence.
  • Use computational thinking
  • Patterns, flows, climate trends, and emergent behaviors can be explored algorithmically.
  • Engage in argument from evidence
  • Students compare scenarios, defend hypotheses, and cite simulation results.
  • Ask scientific questions
  • Embedded prompts encourage curiosity-based exploration.

2. Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)

E.D.E.N. strongly reinforces all NGSS crosscutting concepts:

  • Systems & System Models
  • Students see geology, hydrology, atmosphere, and ecology interact in real time.
  • Cause & Effect
  • Changing one parameter (temperature, rainfall, elevation) leads to observable changes.
  • Patterns
  • Students identify climate bands, drainage networks, and ecological clusters.
  • Energy & Matter
  • Moisture, heat, and energy fields flow through the system.
  • Stability & Change
  • Long-term environmental cycles become visible and explainable.
  • Scale, Proportion, & Quantity
  • Time controls and scenario pacing highlight short vs long timescale changes.

3. Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)

E.D.E.N. is especially aligned with Earth & Space Science (ESS):

ESS2: Earth’s Systems

  • Weather and climate
  • Water cycle
  • Surface processes
  • Geosphere–hydrosphere–atmosphere interactions

E.D.E.N. transforms these into observable, manipulable phenomena.

ESS3: Earth & Human Activity

  • Climate change concepts
  • Resource distribution
  • Environmental impact

Scenarios help students explore environmental cause-and-effect without oversimplification.

ESS1: Earth’s Place in the Universe

  • Planetary structure
  • Orbital modeling (optional scenario modules)

Example NGSS-Aligned Scenario Modules

Each E.D.E.N. scenario includes an NGSS link for teachers.
Examples include:

Watersheds & Drainage Basins

  • NGSS: ESS2.A, ESS2.C
  • Students trace water flow across a geodesic planet and identify how elevation shapes rivers.

Atmospheric Circulation & Climate Zones

  • NGSS: ESS2.D
  • Explore how temperature, wind, and pressure fields generate global weather patterns.

Biomes & Environmental Conditions

  • NGSS: LS2, ESS3
  • Predict where life can thrive based on moisture, climate, and surface conditions.

Surface Processes & Erosion

  • NGSS: ESS2.A
  • Observe how topography influences hydrology and landscape change.

Human Impact Simulations (optional)

  • NGSS: ESS3.C, ESS3.D
  • Explore feedback between human activity and environmental systems.

What Educators Gain

  • Ready-to-use NGSS-aligned lessons
  • Editable scenarios to customize for specific classrooms
  • Data-rich visualizations for instruction
  • Student-friendly tools for inquiry and analysis
  • A modern model of Earth-system dynamics without complex software

E.D.E.N. turns abstract Earth-science standards into hands-on, evidence-driven learning experiences.

What Students Gain

  • Stronger understanding of Earth systems
  • Experience interpreting authentic scientific data
  • Practice building and explaining models
  • Exposure to computational thinking
  • A deeper sense of how climate, water, air, and ecosystems interact
  • Engaging, interactive exploration instead of passive memorization

A Platform Designed for Real Classrooms

E.D.E.N. Education Edition is built to:

  • run on typical school hardware
  • support 1:1 laptop classrooms
  • integrate easily into existing curricula
  • support teachers with minimal learning curve
  • be visually rich and scientifically grounded
  • provide short lessons, long inquiries, and full unit plans

To Learn More

Curriculum guides, scenario overviews, and NGSS alignment maps will be available with the Education Edition launch.

Educators interested in pilots or early access can contact us anytime.