Science as Inquiry K-5

Category State Standard State Indicator Fact, Concept, Generalization Winnebago Indicator Activity Evaluation Levels
Scientific Inquiry 1.2.1 By the end of first grade, students will develop the abilities needed to do scientific inquiry.          
kindergarten
 
  • Ask questions about their surroundings.
  • Collect scientific information from careful observation.
  • Use simple equipment and tools (e.g., rulers, magnifiers to extend the senses.
  • Share findings with classmates, families, or community members.

Asking questions helps us learn.

Changing objects can help us answer questions and learn.

Communication helps us learn from other people.

Pictures can be used to represent objects and events.

     
first    

Observations help collect information that can be used to answer questions.

Communication helps us explain evidence and reasoning to each other.

Communication helps us explain evidence and reasoning to each other.

Communication requires a message being sent and received.

Information can be communicated in many different ways each of which have advantages and disadvantages.

Objects can be described and compared by properties.

Science experiments normally have reproducible results and work the same way in different places.

In science, it is helpful to work with a team and share findings with others.

Tools can be used to make better and more accurate observations (magnifiers).

     
Second 4.2.1 By the end of fourth grade, students will develop the abilities needed to do scientific inquiry.
  • Ask a question about objects, organisms, and events in their surroundings.
  • Plan and conduct a simple investigation.
  • Use simple equipment and tools (e.g., thermometers and scales) to gather data and extend the senses.
  • Use data develop reasonable explanations.
  • Communicate procedures, results, and explanations of an investigation.

Asking questions helps us learn.

Changing objects can help us answer questions and learn.

Communication helps us learn from other people.

Pictures can be used to represent objects and events.

Observations help collect information that can be used to answer questions.

Communication helps us explain evidence and reasoning to each other.

Communication helps us explain evidence and reasoning to each other.

Communication requires a message being sent and received.

Information can be communicated in many different ways each of which have advantages and disadvantages.

Objects can be described and compared by properties.

Science experiments normally have reproducible results and work the same way in different places.

Recognize that repeating a scientific investigation will lead to very similar results.

Recognize that scientific investigations generally work the same way in different places.

Recognize that everyone can do science and invent things and ideas.

In science, it is helpful to work with a team and share findings with others.

Tools can be used to make better and more accurate observations (magnifiers).

People learn with careful observation.

People learn by observing interactions with objects.

People can plan and carry out experiments.

Observations can be compared through communication of properties.

Before and after pictures can be used to represent change.

When people report different observations they can take more observations to try and find agreement.

Tools help scientists make better observations, measurements, and equipment for investigations.

     
Third    

Measurements help make more accurate observations.

Some questions are better for creating experiments to collect and answer questions.

People can plan and carry out experiments.

Variables are conditions that change.

Variables need to be controlled for an experiment to be a fair comparison.

A control is an experiment with all the conditions the same except the one that is being tested.

Manipulating variables helps collect data.

Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer.

People can invent a rule to explain something by summarizing observations. People tend to overgeneralize (imagine general rules based on a few observations).

Sometimes people use incorrect logic when they make a statement such as If A is ture, then B is true. But A isn't true, therefore B isn't true.

A single example can never prove something true.

Sometimes a single example can prove something is not true.

An analogy has some likeness and some differences.

I can check my ideas in books and see if other people have the same ideas as I do.

Some tests are not fair if all variables are not kept the same.

Different reasons for what is happening have different degrees of accuracy.

A good way to know something is to try it out.

Collecting data helps create explanations.

Data and explanations from investigations can be compared with what different scientists published about what they found and think about the world.

Explanations are developed form observation and are based on what is already known about the world.

     
Fourth            
  4.2.1 By the end of fourth grade, students will develop the abilities needed to do scientific inquiry.
  • Ask a question about objects, organisms, and events in their surroundings.
  • Plan and conduct a simple investigation.
  • Use simple equipment and tools (e.g., thermometers and scales) to gather data and extend the senses.
  • Use data develop reasonable explanations.
  • Communicate procedures, results, and explanations of an investigation.
       
    Questioning and observing

Asking questions helps us learn.

Inquiry starts with observation.

Observations help collect information that can be used to answer questions.

Tools can be used to make better and more accurate observations (magnifiers).

Measurements help make more accurate observations.

People learn with careful observation.

People learn by observing interactions with objects.

When people report different observations they can take more observations to try and find agreement.

Tools help scientists make better observations, measurements, and equipment for investigations.

Some questions are better for creating experiments to collect and answer questions.

Observations can be compared through communication of properties.

     
    Plan and investigate

Changing objects can help us answer questions and learn.

People can plan and carry out experiments.

Variables are conditions that change.

Variables need to be controlled for an experiment to be a fair comparison.

A control is an experiment with all the conditions the same except the one that is being tested.

Manipulating variables helps collect data.

Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer.

Special care must be taken when using animals for research.

Investigation involves all kinds of people.

     
    Use data and reasoning to construct explanations

Science experiments normally have reproducible results and work the same way in different places.

People can invent a rule to explain something by summarizing observations. People tend to overgeneralize (imagine general rules based on a few observations).

Sometimes people use incorrect logic when they make a statement such as If A is ture, then B is true. But A isn't true, therefore B isn't true.

A single example can never prove something true.

Sometimes a single example can prove something is not true.

An analogy has some likeness and some differences.

I can check my ideas in books and see if other people have the same ideas as I do.

Some tests are not fair if all variables are not kept the same.

Different reasons for what is happening have different degrees of accuracy.

A good way to know something is to try it out.

Collecting data helps create explanations.

Data and explanations from investigations can be compared with what different scientists published about what they found and think about the world.

Explanations are developed form observation and are based on what is already known about the world.

     
    Communicate all aspects of investigating

Scientists make the results of their investigations public, communicating in ways that enable others to repeat the investigation.

Communication helps us learn from other people.

Pictures can be used to represent objects and events.

Communication helps us explain evidence and reasoning to each other.

Communication requires a message being sent and received.

Information can be communicated in many different ways each of which have advantages and disadvantages.

Recording observations helps remember specific information.

Objects can be described and compared by properties.

In science, it is helpful to work with a team and share findings with others.

Observations can be compared through communication of properties.

Before and after pictures can be used to represent change.

Clear communication gives other people information about your discoveries and ideas.

Communication allows other people to agree or disagree with a person's findings.

People have always tried to communicate with one another.

Diagrams, charts, pictures, and writing help communicate data.

Investigative discoveries can become available to everyone in the world.

Errors can occur when communicating.

Repeating messages is a way to avoid miscommunication.

Directions can be written so other people can try procedures.

Sketches can be used to explain procedures, events, or ideas to the creator and other people.

Numerical data can be used to describe and compare objects and events to the creator and other people.

Tables and charts can be used to represent objects and events.

     
fifth 8.2.1 By the end of eighth grade, students will develop the abilities needed to do scientific inquiry.

Identify questions and form hypotheses that can be examined through scientific investigations.

Design and conduct a scientific investigation.

Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.

Given evidence, develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models.

Show the relationship between evidence and explanations.

Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions.

Communicate scientific procedures and explanations.

Use mathematics in scientific inquiry.

Scientists raise questions about the world around them and seek answers to some of them by combining observation and trying things out.

Asking questions helps us learn.

Inquiry starts with observation.

Observations help collect information that can be used to answer questions.

Tools can be used to make better and more accurate observations (magnifiers).

Measurements help make more accurate observations.

People learn with careful observation.

People learn by observing interactions with objects.

When people report different observations they can take more observations to try and find agreement.

Tools help scientists make better observations, measurements, and equipment for investigations.

Some questions are better for creating experiments to collect and answer questions.

Observations can be compared through communication of properties.

 

Changing objects can help us answer questions and learn.

People can plan and carry out experiments.

Variables are conditions that change.

Variables need to be controlled for an experiment to be a fair comparison.

A control is an experiment with all the conditions the same except the one that is being tested.

Manipulating variables helps collect data.

Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer.

Special care must be taken when using animals for research.

Investigation involves all kinds of people.

Science experiments normally have reproducible results and work the same way in different places.

People can invent a rule to explain something by summarizing observations. People tend to overgeneralize (imagine general rules based on a few observations).

Sometimes people use incorrect logic when they make a statement such as If A is ture, then B is true. But A isn't true, therefore B isn't true.

A single example can never prove something true.

Sometimes a single example can prove something is not true.

An analogy has some likeness and some differences.

I can check my ideas in books and see if other people have the same ideas as I do.

Some tests are not fair if all variables are not kept the same.

Different reasons for what is happening have different degrees of accuracy.

A good way to know something is to try it out.

Collecting data helps create explanations.

Data and explanations from investigations can be compared with what different scientists published about what they found and think about the world.

Explanations are developed form observation and are based on what is already known about the world.

Scientists make the results of their investigations public, communicating in ways that enable others to repeat the investigation.

Communication helps us learn from other people.

Pictures can be used to represent objects and events.

Communication helps us explain evidence and reasoning to each other.

Communication requires a message being sent and received.

Information can be communicated in many different ways each of which have advantages and disadvantages.

Recording observations helps remember specific information.

Objects can be described and compared by properties.

In science, it is helpful to work with a team and share findings with others.

Observations can be compared through communication of properties.

Before and after pictures can be used to represent change.

Clear communication gives other people information about your discoveries and ideas.

Communication allows other people to agree or disagree with a person's findings.

People have always tried to communicate with one another.

Diagrams, charts, pictures, and writing help communicate data.

Investigative discoveries can become available to everyone in the world.

Errors can occur when communicating.

Repeating messages is a way to avoid miscommunication.

Directions can be written so other people can try procedures.

Sketches can be used to explain procedures, events, or ideas to the creator and other people.

Numerical data can be used to describe and compare objects and events to the creator and other people.

Tables and charts can be used to represent objects and events.

If more than variable changes at a time, the outcome may not be attributed to one of the variables

It may not be possible to identify or control all variables.

What people expect to observe often affects what they actually do observe. Strong beliefs about what they expect to happen can prevent them from seeing other results.

Scientists try to avoid this by having different people conducting independent studies.

Unexpected observations can lead to new discoveries and to new investigations.

There are many kinds of signals in the world that are not detectable with human senses.Mathematics is important in all aspects of scientific inquiry.

Scientific investigations sometimes result in new ideas and phenomena for study.

Graphs can be used to identify relationships.

     

Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©