School Curriculum: Scientific Processes

This page is designed to enable parents to understand what their child should be learning, when they should be learning it, and what degree of mastery the child should have attained (at a median level) by a certain grade level. For Homeschoolers, we hope that this page will serve as a valuable asset in establishing a baseline curriculum. For parents whose children attend public or private schools (or for the inquisitive student) this page should give some guidance as to whether or not the school curriculum and methods are providing students with an adequate standard of education. 

What is meant by "Scientific Processes," why is it important, and how is it approached ? Below is a description of the core discipline and its components, and the answers to why-how-when these components are taught.  Scientific Processes components have median level goals to be attained by the end of Grade 4, by the end of Grade 8, and by the end of Grade 12.

This page does not contain articles for education in this discipline.
For educational articles, go to: Scientific Processes: A. Habits of Mind, B. Inquiry and Problem Solving, C. Safety

STANDARD 5.1 (SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES) ALL STUDENTS WILL DEVELOP PROBLEM-SOLVING, DECISION-MAKING AND INQUIRY SKILLS, REFLECTED BY FORMULATING USABLE QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESES, PLANNING EXPERIMENTS, CONDUCTING SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATIONS, INTERPRETING AND ANALYZING DATA, DRAWING CONCLUSIONS, AND COMMUNICATING RESULTS.

Descriptive Statement: Students best learn science by doing science. Science is not merely a collection of facts and theories but a process, a way of thinking about and investigating the world in which we live. This standard addresses those skills that are used by scientists as they discover and explain the physical universe-skills that are an essential and ongoing part of learning science.

Strands and Cumulative Progress Indicators

By the end of Grade 4, students will:

A. Habits of Mind

1. Raise questions about the world around them and be willing to seek answers through making careful observations and experimentation.

2. Keep records that describe observations, carefully distinguish actual observations from ideas and speculations, and are understandable weeks and months later.

3. Recognize that when a science investigation is replicated, very similar results are expected.

4. Know that when solving a problem it is important to plan and get ideas and help from other people.

B. Inquiry and Problem Solving

1. Develop strategies and skills for information–gathering and problem-solving, using appropriate tools and technologies.

2. Identify the evidence used in an explanation.

C. Safety

1. Recognize that conducting science activities requires an awareness of potential hazards and the need for safe practices.

2. Understand and practice safety procedures for conducting science investigations.

Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 8, students will:

A. Habits of Mind

1. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of data, claims, and arguments.

2. Communicate experimental findings to others.

3. Recognize that the results of scientific investigations are seldom exactly the same and that replication is often necessary.

4. Recognize that curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, and honesty are attributes of scientists.

B. Inquiry and Problem Solving

1. Identify questions and make predictions that can be addressed by conducting investigations.

2. Design and conduct investigations incorporating the use of a control.

3. Collect, organize, and interpret the data that result from experiments.

C. Safety

1. Know when and how to use appropriate safety equipment with all classroom materials.

2. Understand and practice safety procedures for conducting science investigations.

Building upon knowledge and skills gained in preceding grades, by the end of Grade 12, students will:

A. Habits of Mind

1. When making decisions, evaluate conclusions, weigh evidence, and recognize that arguments may not have equal merit.

2. Assess the risks and benefits associated with alternative solutions.

3. Engage in collaboration, peer review, and accurate reporting of findings.

4. Explore cases that demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of the scientific enterprise.

B. Inquiry and Problem Solving

1. Select and use appropriate instrumentation to design and conduct investigations.

2. Show that experimental results can lead to new questions and further investigations.

C. Safety

1. Understand, evaluate and practice safe procedures for conducting science investigations.

 

 

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