• [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science is both a body of knowledge and the process for building that knowledge. (NOS5)
• [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science aims to build explanations of the natural world. (P3, P6)
• [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science focuses on natural phenomena and processes.
• [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science works only with testable ideas. (P2, P3, NOS2)
• [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Scientists strive to test their ideas with evidence from the natural world; a hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7, NOS2)
• [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Scientific knowledge is open to question and revision as new ideas surface and new evidence is discovered. (P4, P6, NOS3)
• [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science is ongoing; answering one scientific question frequently leads to additional questions to be investigated. (P1)
• [How science works: Grades 9-12] The process of science involves observation, exploration, testing, communication, and application.
• [How science works: Grades 9-12] Scientists test their ideas (hypotheses and theories) by figuring out what expectations are generated by an idea and making observations to find out whether those expectations are borne out. (P4, P6)
• [How science works: Grades 9-12] Scientists test their ideas using multiple lines of evidence. (P6, NOS2)
• [How science works: Grades 9-12] Researchers share their findings with the scientific community through scientific publications. (P8)
• [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 9-12] Hypotheses are proposed explanations for a narrow set of phenomena. (P6)
• [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 9-12] Hypotheses are usually inspired and informed by previous research and/or observations. They are not guesses. (P6)
• [The social side of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists usually work collaboratively. (NOS7)
• [The social side of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists scrutinize each other's work through peer review and other processes. (P7, NOS5)
• [The social side of science: Grades 9-12] Science relies on the accumulated knowledge of the scientific community to move forward. (NOS5)

• NOS Matrix understanding category 2. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 3. Scientific knowledge is open to revision in light of new evidence.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 5. Science is a way of knowing.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 7. Science is a human endeavor.
• Science and Engineering Practice 1. Asking questions and defining problems
• Science and Engineering Practice 2. Developing and using models
• Science and Engineering Practice 3. Planning and carrying out investigations
• Science and Engineering Practice 4. Analyzing and interpreting data
• Science and Engineering Practice 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
• Science and Engineering Practice 7. Engaging in argument from evidence
• Science and Engineering Practice 8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

This lesson provides a foundation on which students can develop a long-term investigation.

• Exploration and discovery
• Hypotheses/theories
• Peer review
• Process of science
• Scientific arguments/evidence/testing ideas