Washington state has outlined the three legs students must learn in grade 10 science class. Class lessons are built on these legs.
1. Know and apply scientific concepts and principles to understand the properties, structure, and changes in physical, earth/space, and living systems [viz. understand these things].
2. Know and apply skills, processes and nature of scientific inquiry [viz. do science experiments and research].
3. Know and apply science concepts and skills to develop solutions to human problems in social contexts [viz. discuss how science affects people and how people affect science].
All the details of what students need to learn in science class cascade from these three points.