Science as Inquiry

Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

• Ask a question about objects, organisms, and events in the environment.
• Plan and conduct a simple investigation.
• Employ simple equipment and tools to gather data and extend the senses.
• Use data to construct a reasonable explanation.
• Communicate investigations and explanations.

Understandings about scientific inquiry

• Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer.
• Simple instruments, like rulers, provide more information than scientists obtain using only their senses.
• Scientists develop explanations using observations and what they already know about the world.
• Scientists make the results of their investigations public.
• Scientists review and ask questions about the results of other scientists’ work.

Properties of objects and materials

• Objects have many observable properties, including size, weight, shape, and color. These properties can be measured using tools, such as balances.
• Objects can be described by the properties of the materials from which they are made, and those properties can be used to separate or sort a group of objects.

Position and motion of objects

• The position of an object can be described by locating it relative to another object.

Abilities of technological design

• Identify a simple problem.
• Propose a solution.
• Implementing proposed solutions.
• Evaluate a product or design.
• Communicate a problem, design, and solution.

Understandings about science and technology

• Science is one way of answering questions and explaining the natural world.
• Scientists and engineers work in teams.
• Women and men of all ages, backgrounds, and groups engage in a variety of scientific and technological work.
• Tools help scientists make better observations and measurements. They help scientists see, measure, and do things they could not otherwise see, measure, and do.

Science and technology in local challenges

• People continue inventing new ways of doing things, solving problems, and getting work done.

Science as a human endeavor

• Science and technology have been practiced by people for a long time.
• Men and women have made a variety of contributions throughout the history of science and technology.
• Many people derive great pleasure from doing science.

Unifying Concepts and Processes

Systems, order, and organization

Evidence, models, and explanation

Constancy, change, and measurement

Evolution and equilibrium

Form and function