Sensemaking with the Crosscutting Concepts

Crosscutting concepts (CCCs) are more than just one of the dimensions; they play a vital role in helping learners make sense of scientific phenomena and problems. The CCCs provide a common language and framework that makes science accessible and relatable to all learners since it is a schema learners have been developing from an early age. The CCCs provide a framework that supports all learners in developing the skills to observe patterns, predict phenomena, and solve complex problems. The CCCs operate as a schema that enables learners to see the interconnectedness of science and apply their knowledge in a meaningful way, both in the classroom and in their everyday lives. They are the lenses through which learners can see the simplicity in the complexity of science.