• [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)
• [How science works: Grades 9-12] The process of science involves observation, exploration, testing, communication, and application.
• [How science works: Grades 9-12] Scientific observations can be made directly with our own senses or may be made indirectly through the use of tools.
• [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] Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observational research, comparative research, and modeling) to collect data. (P2, P3, P4, NOS1)
• [How science works: Grades 9-12] 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 9-12] Scientists aim for their studies to be replicable.
• [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] Scientists are creative. (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 5. Science is a way of knowing.
• NOS Matrix understanding category 7. Science is a human endeavor.
• 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 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

This is a lab activity that is usually given to students with a predetermined procedure that they follow. In this version of the lesson, students must come up with their own procedures to verify Newton's 2nd Law. As the emphasis here is on the process of science rather than the actual results, some students may not see this as "real" science. It is in fact a huge part of the scientific process carried on by real researchers. It is important for students to realize how much time can and should go into designing a good procedure.

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