Grade Level(s):
- 6-8
Source:
- UC Museum of Paleontology
Resource type:
- classroom activity
Discipline:
- Earth science
Time: 1-2 class periods
Overview
Students read a story about Walter Alvarez and then plot his scientific journey on the Understanding Science Flowchart. Students find that science is seldom a linear story.
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Science is both a body of knowledge and the process for building that knowledge. (NOS5)
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Science aims to build explanations of the natural world. (P3, P6)
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Science works only with testable ideas. (P2, P3, NOS2)
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] 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 6-8] Scientific knowledge is open to question and revision as new ideas surface and new evidence is discovered. (P6, NOS3)
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Science is ongoing; answering one scientific question frequently leads to additional questions to be investigated. (P1)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] The process of science involves observation, exploration, testing, communication, and application.
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] The real process of science is complex, iterative, and can take many different paths.
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists test their ideas by predicting what they would expect to observe if their idea were true and then seeing if that prediction is correct. (P4, P6)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists test their ideas using multiple lines of evidence.
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists often try to generate multiple explanations for what they observe. (P7)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observations, comparisons, and modeling) to collect evidence. (P2, P3, P4, NOS1)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists look for patterns in their observations and data. (P4, P5)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Raw data must be analyzed and interpreted before we can tell whether a scientific idea is likely to be accurate or inaccurate. (P4, P5)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Different scientists may interpret the same data in different ways. (P7)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists aim for their studies to be replicable.
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades ] 6-8
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 6-8] Hypotheses are potential explanations for what we observe in the natural world. (P6)
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 6-8] Hypotheses are usually inspired and informed by previous research and/or observations. They are not guesses. (P6)
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 6-8] Accepted scientific theories are not tenuous; they must survive rigorous testing and be supported by multiple lines of evidence to be accepted. (P6, NOS4)
- [The social side of science: Grades 6-8] Science depends on communication within the scientific community. (P7, P8)
- [The social side of science: Grades 6-8] Scientists usually work collaboratively. (NOS7)
- [The social side of science: Grades 6-8] Scientists check each other's work, often through peer review. (P7)
- [The social side of science: Grades 6-8] The scientific community is global and diverse. (NOS7)
- NOS Matrix understanding category 1. Scientific investigations use a variety of methods.
- 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 4. Scientific models, laws, mechanisms, and theories explain natural phenomena.
- 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 4. Analyzing and interpreting data
- Science and Engineering Practice 5. Using mathematics and computational thinking
- 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
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