Core Subjects Cert Exam - Science - Nature of Science
Mr. Chang's fourth-grade students are just finishing a unit on solar energy. They built solar cookers and solar heaters, and the students are excited about the potentials of using solar energy in the future. Which additional activity would best help students make wise decisions about using solar energy when they are home and business owners?
an age appropriate cost/benefit analysis
Terrance lives near a river and is concerned about the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels. Which alternative energy in his area would be the best solution for his concern?
hydroelectric energy
A student is investigating the growth of Elodea under different light sources. Which of the following is the best research question for this student?
how does the type of light source affect the rate of photosynthesis of Elodea plants?
The process of risk assessment leads scientists to...?
1. identify problems, 2. predict an outcome, 3. conduct the research, 4. interpret the results, 5. make decisions, in that order
A fifth-grade class has been learning why we need to define a system during an investigation. To reinforce the learning, the teacher asks students to imagine they are scientists getting ready to investigate something in their own lives, for example, a particular aspect of a sport, or an activity the student likes to do. After helping each student define the question they might investigate, the teacher wants the students to define the system of their investigation. Which of the following will best enable the students to successfully complete the task?
A handout with examples, prompts, and blanks where the student can write their investigation question and define their system.
Which of the following accurately summarizes the difference between a hypothesis, a scientific theory, and a scientific law?
A hypothesis is a predicted outcome, a theory is a proposed explanation based on evidence, and a law is a documented description of observations surrounding a phenomenon.
Which of the following is based on evidence and describes, mathematically or in words, how changes in one quantity affect changes in another?
A law describes what happens during a scientific process.
Feedback loop
a series of experiments in which the results lead to more possible hypotheses and subsequently more testing
Which of the following statements best illustrates how to help students develop ethical thinking in science?
A regular and consistent focus on how science can affect society, for good or bad.
Equilibrium (of a System)
A system in balance; no forces acting on objects within the system
Physical models
a smaller or larger replica of an object done to scale
Which of the following is an example of risk assessment for societal advancement in science?
An agent of the Environmental Protection Agency performs an Environmental Impact Assessment prior to the construction of a new bridge.
Students in a fifth-grade class are arguing about whether evolution is a hypothesis, a theory, or a law. After giving the definitions of each, how might a teacher best help her students resolve their argument and understand the differences in the three terms?
As a class, gather and categorize examples of hypotheses, theories, and laws and ask students to develop a valid reason for categorizing evolution as one of the three.
Example 2: A third-grade teacher begins a unit on how land changes over time by telling the story of a house on the shore of Lake Michigan. Waves are gradually eroding the shoreline. The house's owners want to know what they can do to save their yard. What is the best way to start an inquiry lesson on this topic?
Ask students for thoughts on how to save the yard, writing their ideas on the board for subsequent discussion. This involves a process that includes sorting through ideas, forming a hypothesis, experimentation, and research before answering the question.
Example 3: A first-grade teacher created a unit focused on classifying living and non-living things. The teacher placed 2 potted plants, a terrarium with dirt and earthworms, a small robotic insect that could move inside a clear container, and a pencil on a table. One potted plant and the terrarium were watered regularly and appropriately. The robotic insect was turned on and left to move about its container. The rest of the items were left alone. Every week for 4 weeks the students took cell phone pictures of the items. At the end of the 4 weeks, the teacher posted the series of pictures so all students could see and asked, "How can we tell whether something is living or not?" In order to activate students' higher-level thinking and communication skills, which of the following is the best way to respond after recording each student's answer?
Ask the student to explain why they chose that answer. Students will have to eloborate on their answers by explaining the evidence that led to the conclusion.
Which of the following activities is the least effective in helping students practice the process skill of communicating?
Before doing an experiment, ask students to gather all of the materials they will need to perform the experiment.
Which of the following statements about chimpanzees most effectively relates structure to function?
Chimpanzees have opposable thumbs on all four hands to swing from trees.
Pre-lesson Planning: Teacher activity - Pan questioning strategies, activities, and discrepant event that will bring out the guiding question and testable hypotheses. Encourage student curiosity and creativity by asking students to observe, infer explanations, predict expected experimental outcomes, and elaborate on their reasoning.
Drop a book onto the floor and ask questions about the energy involved at several positions, including after the book lands. Some students will respond that the energy disappeared. The teacher could answer, "There is a law in science that says energy is neither created nor destroyed. How can the law be true if the energy disappeared?", thus introducing the guiding question. Use questions and demonstrations to help students propose hypotheses they can test to answer the question. For example, drop the book several times while students write down observations. Follow with a class discussion leading to fruitful hypotheses and investigation proposals.
The guided question can be a hypothesis. True or False
False
Example 3: A first-grade teacher created a unit focused on classifying living and non-living things. The teacher placed 2 potted plants, a terrarium with dirt and earthworms, a small robotic insect that could move inside a clear container, and a pencil on a table. One potted plant and the terrarium were watered regularly and appropriately. The robotic insect was turned on and left to move about its container. The rest of the items were left alone. Every week for 4 weeks the students took cell phone pictures of the items. At the end of the 4 weeks, the teacher posted the series of pictures so all students could see and asked, "How can we tell whether something is living or not?" Which of the following additional student activities would best help the teacher assess the students' abilities to apply their learning from the activity?
From a set of objects, assign each student an object and have them explain why they would classify it as living or not living. the students have to both classify and explain their reasoning.
Students often confuse the science process skill of observation with that of inference. To help her students practice differentiating between the two, Ms. Hing brings in a mud imprint of a dinosaur footprint, a daisy with a few petals missing, and a lamp that doesn't turn on. Which of the following activities would best help her students practice differentiating between observation and inference?
Have groups write lists of observations and inferences about the items. Then, specify "observation" or "inference" and have groups earn points for correct, unique answers.
Example 1: A teacher sets up 2 terrariums with growing plants. The teacher adds Japanese beetle larvae to one terrarium and adult Japanese beetles to the other. The students observe the terrariums each day for a few weeks and note that the plants in the terrarium with larvae seem to be wilting and dying; whereas in the terrarium with adult beetles, the leaf material is disappearing, leaving only the leaf-veins and stems. Which of the following activities will best introduce the process skill of inference to the students?
Have students express how they think the insects interact with the plants. the students are asked to explain their observations
Ms. Ludgate would like her students to participate in an Engagement activity for a unit on vascular and nonvascular plants. Which of the following is the most appropriate for an Engagement activity in the 5E Instructional Model?
Have students pair up, and give each pair a sample of a nonvascular plant and a vascular plant. Ask students to make observations and notice differences, then have each pair share their findings with the class.
Which activity would best support first-grade students in developing an understanding of force and motion?
Have students use a ruler to push a low-friction object across their desks and describe the kind of push needed to make the object move in a straight line, in a zigzag pattern, and at different speeds. this is an inquiry based activity
Which activity would best support third-grade students in developing an understanding of measuring with the metric system and creating graphs?
Having students use a metric ruler to measure the height of blades of grass growing in the schoolyard and then guiding them as they make bar graphs of their recorded results.
Scientific Method
Identify, observe, hypothesis, experiment (control group, experimental group), data, conclusion
Which of the following is a main benefit of using inquiry-based learning in the classroom?
Inquiry-based learning encourages students' scientific inquiry and develops their skills using the scientific method.
Which of the following scientists won two Nobel Prizes, one in physics and one in chemistry, and discovered the elements Radium and Polonium?
Marie Curie
A student performed an experiment on three different types of paper towels. Each of the towels was soaked in a separate beaker, each containing 20 ml of water, for exactly 15 seconds. The towels were removed. What step should be next in the procedure in order to accurately identify the paper towel that absorbed the most water?
Measure the remaining water in each of the three beakers and compare the results.
Ms. Lemmons' class is about to carry out a lab experiment related to plant growth. She wants to support her students in learning critical thinking skills. Which of the following would be the most effective way to carry out the experiment?
Ms. Lemmons can help the students form a hypothesis, identify their variables, and design an experiment before starting the experiment.
Two third-grade teachers are discussing how to teach form and function to their classes. Ms. Garcia says "I plan to take the kids to the playground outside and have describe the form and function of four things they see." Ms. Rodrigues says "That sounds like a good idea, but perhaps two trips outside would be better. On the first trip students could identify the form of four things and then connect each form to its function. On the second trip, students could identify the function of four things, and then identify the form required for each function." Which plan will have the best learning outcomes for differentiating form and function, and why?
Ms. Rodrigues' plan for two trips will have the best learning outcomes because students can focus first on form supporting function and then on function requiring form.
Which of the following scientists is particularly noted for his or her contribution to atomic theory?
Niels Bohr
Which of the following is a key component to living a healthy lifestyle?
adequate water, nutrition, and exercise
Dynamic
Property of a system to constantly change in response to a stimulus
What is the most important reason for repeatability in scientific investigations?
Repeatability decreases the impact of human error, increases the reliability of results, and solidifies scientific law.
The 5E Model of Instruction is routinely recommended as one of the best practices in science classrooms. Which of these E's is generally the first step of the lesson cycle?
engage
5-E Model
engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate
A teacher used the following activity to teach her elementary students about the process of science. She divided the students into teams of 3, provided them with paper, glue sticks, and scissors, and told them their goal was to build the highest tower, but only one student could touch the materials at a time. The teams would work as a relay, first one student building, with the other two coaching, then when a bell rings, switch builders, and so on until each student has had a chance to build. Which aspect of the scientific process was the teacher most likely trying to illustrate?
Scientific discoveries build on the discoveries of scientists who came before.
Pre-lesson Planning: Teacher activity- Think through experiments student may want to do and find supportive research that might help them interpret their findings. Prepare the materials to have available for students when they preform their investigations. (several concrete ideas)
Students may wonder what they could do and what information would help them address their hypothesis. Students may wonder if sound carries energy away. (Will smaller energy changes produce softer sounds, is there a computer simulation of the eardrum responding to a sound?) Students may wonder if the energy "squishes the floor" (deformation) or makes the floor vibrate. (Will dropping the book onto variably deformable materials answer this? Is there a slow-motion video of deformation due to an impact?)
Which activity would best support kindergarten students in developing the ability to ask questions and seek answers through investigations?
Telling students that there is a problem with litter in the city and that the city planners would like a solution, and then guiding students into asking questions about the problem and suggesting ways to test solutions.
Which of the following is NOT a valid reason for giving all elementary students opportunities to design and perform investigations?
To learn that all of the questions in science have answers.
Example 2: A student creates an experiment to study speed and car weight. She builds an angled track and has a marked starting point. She uses different car designs, each with a different weight. She releases each car at the top of the ramp and times how long it takes to reach the starting point and bottom of the track. She graphs the results as a bar chart, with car weight against the time. What is the biggest issue with her experimental design?
The description says she used "different car designs, each with a different weight" but an experimental investigation should only have one variable being changed. Since both the design and the weight changed, it's impossible to know if the design or the weight caused the difference in speed
Evolution
The gradual change in populations over time
A teacher tells the following true story to her fifth-grade class. "Some scientists in Utah had made a wonderful discovery! They discovered a source of huge amounts of cheap energy that was easy to produce. They performed experiments, analyzed their data, and published their results. Scientists at research centers all over the world tried to do the experiments in their own labs, but there was a problem: no one could get the same results as the original scientists. The original results could not be reproduced and eventually their conclusions were rejected. Their experiment had not worked in any other lab, and no cheap and abundant energy source was developed." Of the following choices, which concept is she most likely preparing to teach?
The importance of repeatability in science.
Mrs. Gruntle is planning a health unit on substance abuse. Before beginning the unit, Mrs. Gruntle prepares a pretest to give the students. Which of the following is the most important advantage of the pretest?
The pretest will help Mrs. Gruntle recognize misconceptions students have about substance abuse
System
The set of objects under study. Everything else is the environment.
How are form and function related?
They have a complementary relationship, with form allowing function and function enforcing the need for the specific form.
Which is the best way to help elementary students learn the scientific method?
Use ideas from the scientific method, with explicit instruction, in hands-on investigations throughout the year.
System model
a conceptual model of all of the parts of a system, including planning, goals, analysis, solution, testing, implementation, and evaluation
Inference
a conclusion based on evidence, observation, and reasoning
From the list below, which activity is most likely to help students understand the impacts of humanity and technology on the environment?
a field trip to a nearby location where humans have impacted the environment
Control Group
a group that does not receive the experimental treatment
Experimental Group
a group that does receive the experimental treatment
Which of the following is an example of a scientific model?
a mathematical formula
Different systems of measurement are used for different purposes. Scientists typically use the metric system to communicate results to other scientists. Which of the following describes a situation when a scientist might use a different system of measurement to communicate data?
a meteorologist reporting the temperature to a viewing audience
Scaffolding
a method of teaching that involves gradually removing aids when teaching new concepts
Fossil fuels
a natural non-renewable source, derived from underground, fossilised remains of living organisms
Which of the following is the best definition of a hypothesis?
a predicted outcome based on an observation that can be further tested by experimentation
Assimilation
a process in which existing schemas are applied to new objects or situations
Scientific theory
a proposed explanation for a phenomenon which may not be testable
Scientific law
a proven explanation for a phenomenon
Conceptual models
a representation of a system using diagrams or drawings to explain complex or abstract systems or processes
Output
a result of input into a system
The Metric System
a standard system of measurement based on powers of 10.
Conclusion
a summary of the results of an experiment states whether the initial hypothesis was rejected or supported
Which of the following models would be most appropriate for a geologist to use to show the locations and relative elevations of mountain ranges in the United States?
a topographic map of the united states
Postive Feedback
a type of input into a system in which the result causes the system to continue on the path in which it was headed before the input
Negative feedback
a type of input into a system in which the result causes the system to return closer to the previous conditions
Which of the following is NOT an appropriate science activity for encouraging elementary students into adopting a healthier lifestyle?
an analysis comparing the cost of name brand versus store brand foods
Global Warming and Climate Change
an overall increase in average global temperatures due to the greenhouse effect (the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere trapping more heat)
Nonrenewable resources
are gone once used (or replenish too slowly to recharge) resources which will be depleted faster than they can be replenished
What should scientific inquiry questions include?
are non-trivial, elicit discussion, and generally cannot be answered (at that grade level) without investigation can be answered by experimental or observational evidence that can be performed by the students are about objects, organisms, and processes in the natural world seek explanations (why and how), although the first stages of understanding might include recognizing patterns should stimulate student thinking and foster good scientific inquiry practices
Dependent variables
are those that depend on the condition or value of the independent variable. These are the factors measured by the scientist. Usually, experiments are conducted in order to study effects on the dependent variable. They are typically plotted on the y-axis when graphed
Controlled variables
are those that remain the same across experimental trials. These can include the temperature at which the experiment is conducted, atmospheric conditions, and so forth. The presence of controlled variables ensures that the only factor affecting the dependent variable is, in fact, the independent variable.
Independent variable
are those that the scientist manipulates. There should be only one independent variable in each experimental trial. They are typically plotted on the x-axis or used as a label when graphed against time.
Which of the following activities would allow students to practice the skill of predicting after they have finished a study of populations, prey, and predation?
asking students what might happen if predators were removed from an ecosystem
How might scientific research be advanced in a society?
assessing needs and using scientific research to address those needs in order to benefit society and our environment
Which of the following is an example of a negative feedback system?
body temperature regulation
Teachers scaffold by...?
building support elements for student learning; that is, the teacher is a designer, facilitator, coach, and fellow learner
Renewable resources:
can be replaced as quickly as they can be used, resources which replenish at the same or faster rate than the rate at which they are used
Having students create three-dimensional models of a generic animal cell would be most suited for teaching which of the following biological concepts?
cell organelle structure
Inquiry-based learning
centers around developing and answering questions or solving problems from the real-world
Example 2: Which process skill is a fifth-grade teacher assessing when he asks his students to sort beakers of different materials into mixtures, compounds, and pure substances?
classification, separating is a form of classification
Which of the following steps in the scientific method is only completed after the experiment is completed?
communicating data
Third-grade students are finishing a unit on wind and air by defending their interpretation of the results of their investigation. Which of the following scientific skills are they practicing?
communication
Ms. Medure's fourth-grade class is studying volcanoes. Which of the following activities linked to science practices best supports the instruction of "change in natural systems" as related to volcanic eruptions?
constructing explanations about how landscapes are altered by volcanic activity
Which of the following is an example of a positive feedback system?
contractions during labor and childbirth
Dmitri Mendeleev
created the basis for today's periodic table
Evidence
data gathered in the course of scientific investigation, including measurements taken and observations made using the five senses
Qualitative Data
data which is described rather than measured
Qualitative data
data which is described rather than measured
Quantitative data
data which is measured and usually expressed numerically
Marie Curie, along with her husband Pierre
discovered Radium and Polonium
Louis Pasteur
discovery of airborne diseases and vaccines
Sir Isaac Newton
laws of motion and discovery of gravity
Scientists come from a...?
diverse background!
Pre-lesson Planning: Teacher activity - Start be defining the desired learning goals
during a unit on energy, 4th-grade students will understand that energy is neither created nor destroyed, and that sound and heat can carry energy away from a system.
Which of the following is an example of a natural phenomenon?
earthquake along a fault line
Students have learned about the energy stored in rubber bands and springs and now use provided materials to build and test gum-drop launchers. Which phase of the 5E model is being implemented in this activity?
elaborate
A second-grade teacher creates a science lesson based on the following TEKS: (2) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student develops abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry in classroom and outdoor investigations. The student is expected to: (A) ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations; (B) plan and conduct descriptive investigations; (C) collect data from observations using scientific tools; (D) record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words; (E) communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations; and (F) compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world. To begin, the teacher holds up a metal rod and a pencil and says, "Which object will stick to the magnet?" The students shout out different responses until the teacher places the magnet on each object. This portion of the lesson focuses on which area of the 5-E learning cycle?
engage
In a science center, students who stand in front of a wall when a light flashes will see a picture of their shadow on the wall afterward. Which phase of the 5E model is being implemented in this activity?
engage
After learning about organisms and adaptations, a teacher asks students to describe what they learned about how a particular organism might survive during a drought. She finds that many of her students cannot think of any ways the organism might adapt. She decides she will extend the lesson to the next class period. Which phase of the 5E model is the teacher implementing when she asks for descriptions of adaptation?
evaluate
Discrepant events
events with unexpected outcomes
What should logical explanations include?
evidence gathered from experiment, but relying on existing scientific knowledge
Cara would like to research the effects of plants on students' self-reported stress levels. She places potted plants in student common areas for two weeks, taking surveys before and after. She then makes a graph of her findings. Which parts of the scientific method is Cara performing?
experimentation and data analysis
After observing the behavior of ants in an ant farm, students present their drawings and ideas about ant behavior to each other in small groups. Which phase of the 5E model is being implemented in this activity?
explain
A first-grade teacher is creating a science center based on the following TEKS. (2) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student develops abilities to ask questions and seek answers in classroom and outdoor investigations. The student is expected to: (A) ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world; (B) plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations; (C) collect data and make observations using simple tools; (D) record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words; and (E) communicate observations and provide reasons for explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations. She builds a leaf rubbing center with 5 different kinds of leaves. The students can view the leaves under a microscope and use various other tools to conduct observations. Which phase of the 5-E model is this center demonstrating?
exploration
Elementary students use flashlights with opaque and transparent objects as they investigate shadows. Which phase of the 5E model is being implemented in this activity?
explore
Example: In a lesson on motion, students have measured and recorded the position of a wind-up toy car at various times as it moved across the floor. The teacher has asked the students to graph position versus time and then to write descriptions, in words, of how the speed was changing at five positions on the graph. Which TWO of the following phases of the 5-E format are in use as the students write? Engage Explore Explain Elaborate
explore and explain
Students in Mr. Fritz's class are experimenting with papier-mache volcanoes that "erupt" when vinegar mixes with baking soda. Which of the following activities best helps the students practice the process skill of predicting?
expressing thoughts about what doubling the amount of vinegar would do to the eruption
Gregor Mendel
father of genetics
Nonrenewable resources include
fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, and minerals such as gold, iron ore, and titanium
Renewable resources include
green energy such as water, wind, and solar energy and commodities such as drinking water, crops and wood
Mr. Popov is teaching his second-grade class about the benefits of the metric system. Which of the following activities is the most effective way to convey its ease of use to second graders, as compared with the U.S. customary system of measurement?
hand out objects of varying length and ask students to measure the lengths in centimeters and in inches, discuss the results
Example 1: Which of the following is an example of a second-grade teacher incorporating inquiry-based instruction into a science lesson on how plants disperse their seeds?
having small groups of students collect, observe, and classify weed and plant seeds collected from the schoolyard.
Which of the following activities best illustrates an activity related to using scientific inquiry in the classroom?
helping students identify a problem and develop testable questions that might lead to a solution
What is a testable prediction based on observations?
hypothesis
What terms should student explanations include?
hypothesis, experiment, date, and conclusion
Which order of steps correctly illustrates the process of risk assessment?
identify problems, predict an outcome, conduct research, interpret results, make decisions
Which of the following activities best helps students practice the process skill of classification?
identifying the contents of beakers as solids, liquids, or gases
Imagine that the US president's science advisor wants to perform a risk assessment of several scientific proposals before recommending which should be fully supported by federal funds. Which of the following steps should the advisor take first?
identifying the problems that need solutions
Which of the following is the best way to engage students from diverse cultural backgrounds in the practices of science?
incorporate science lessons that develop from the actual experiences of students in their culture
Freshwater is a limited resource that is needed to sustain much of life on Earth. Which of the following reduces the availability of fresh drinking water for humans and animals?
increased crop irrigation
Heart disease is a major threat to human life in the United States. Which of the following lifestyle changes is the most likely to reduce the incidence of heart disease?
increasing the amount of exercise
Why is it important for scientists around the world to adhere to the same system of measurement?
it allows for easier and more consistent communication of results
What quality makes evidence reliable?
it is factual and is gathered through concrete means
_____________ state what will happen, ______________ theories explain why something happens
law, theories
Boundaries
limits that define what is, and what is not, part of the system under study
Galileo Galilei
made a good telescope, discovered jupiters moons, and furthered copernicus' idea of heliocentricity. also talented at math and credited with the scientific method
What are the six key process skills important to any scientific experiment and investigation?
make detailed observations, classify what they see, measure, record, and analyze accurate data, clearly communicate to share their results, infer by making a conclusion based on evidence, observation, and reasoning, and predict what will happen
Which activity would best support third-grade students in developing an understanding of the Solar System and the positions of the planets relative to the Sun?
making a physical model showing the order of the plants ad three properties of each planet
Which activity would best support second-grade students in developing an understanding of the stages in the life cycles of insects?
making and recording observations of a butterfly as it progresses from the egg stage to an adult butterfly while also using a chart to identify, name, and explain the stages
Second-grade students are using a voltmeter to find the voltage across several different types of batteries. They then make a graph showing the voltages for each type of battery. Which of the following scientific skills are the students practicing?
measuring
Which of the following is an inquiry-based activity that could be used during a unit on specific heat?
measuring and graphing temperature versus time for different materials placed under a heat lamp
Mathematical models
models that use mathematical formulas, variables, and language to refer to relationships and processes in a system
Accommodation
occurs when existing schemas cannot be applied to new objects or situations, and must therefore be adapted and revised
Natural Phenomena
natural events produced by natural forces which cause noticeable changes to the earth's surface
Which of the following best describes a resource that, once used, cannot be replaced or reused?
nonrenewable
Which of the following activities best helps students practice the process skill of observing?
noting the features of clouds present in the sky on a certain morning
Which of the following is not a renewable resource?
nuclear fuel
Kindergarten students are asked to watch a caterpillar and draw pictures to show what it does. Which of the following scientific skills are they practicing?
observation
Disequilibrium
occurs when a child cannot use existing schemas to comprehend new information
Mr. Singer's class wonders why the United States is colder in the winter, since the Earth is closer to the sun at that time. Mr. Singer proposes that they design experiments to investigate the relationship between the angle of the sunlight and temperature on Earth. He divides his students into lab groups and sets out globes, lamps, and thermometers. Before they can use the equipment, however, each lab group first designs their experiment. Which of the following should students identify in their experimental design?
one independent variable, one dependent variable, and several constants
Of the following, which is most appropriate to do after testing a hypothesis?
organize data
Subsystem
part of a system; generally focuses on one parameter of a system
Which of the following activities best helps students practice the process skill of predicting?
participating in a discussion on which soil conditions might help plants grow taller after examining plants in the schoolyard
What does it mean when other members of the scientific community read and fact-check the papers?
peer review
Why is learning the scientific process, such as collecting evidence, making models, and constructing explanations, as important to a science lesson as learning content?
science processes unify science disciplines and phenomenon
Models
physical, mathematical, or visual representations of scientific phenomena
According the 5E model, an ideal full lesson cycle should start by ___ and end with ___.
piquing students' interests; some sort of evaluation
A fourth-grade class built a model of the solar system. Each student group worked in isolation and was responsible for building one assigned representation of a planet, moon, or other object. Which limitation is the greatest concern for the class, with regards to the solar system model, once it is put together?
planet sizes will not be built to scale
Example 2: Which of the following pre-lesson activities would most likely improve student engagement in an upcoming inquiry-based lesson?
presenting a real-world problem that leads to the inquiry-based question.
Daniel Bernoulli
principle to explain the conversion of energy in fluids
A second-grade teacher is planning to teach a lesson on measuring mass. What would be the best introductory activity for his students?
providing balance beam scales and various objects to compare
Guiding questions
questions that lead to a deeper understanding by arousing curiosity and interest
A scientist is performing an experiment to determine the conductivity of a specific substance. Which of the following actions would increase the reliability of the results?
recording the results of repeated experiments
The more _______________ happens, the more _______________ the results are...
replication, reliable
Experimental Investigation
researchers assign subjects in the sample to certain treatments, then observe the effects of the treatment, can show causation (cause and effect)
What is a proven and documented description of observations surrounding a phenomenon?
scientific law
Input
something put into a system that causes change
During a unit on acids and bases, which of the following activities best helps students practice the process skill of predicting?
stating whether an untested chemical might be acidic or basic based on its common usage
What is the scientific method?
steps used to ensure high-quality scientific research, guide scientists through the steps of planning the process and conducting the experiment
organization
store this new information and relate it to what they already know and understand about the world.
Student Behavior - Engage: Generate interest, connect to previous learning, understand learning goals
student behavior: be mentally engaged, respond thoughtfully, express curiosity, connect to previous learning, think about ways to find answers
Student Behavior - Explore: Students interact with materials and content, observe, manipulate, record, make sense.
student behavior: actively manipulate materials or interactive content, gather and organize data, connect data to previous knowledge, probe deeply seeking answers, make sense of observations
Student Behavior - Evaluate: Assess and reteach
student behavior: demonstrate new learning and skills, self-evaluate and relearn as needed
Student Behavior - Explain: Verbalize learning, define new terms, explain processes, correct misconceptions
student behavior: explain observations and analysis, support conclusions with evidence, respond to other students' ideas (discussion)
Student Behavior - Elaborate: Extend learning to new situations and practice newly acquired skills
student behavior: extend learning to new situations presented by the teacher, think of other new applications or situations to apply the concepts, practice skills
Pre-lesson Planning: Teacher activity - Be sure students have the necessary prior knowledge and reteach if needed (may include anchor chart or refresh vocabulary
students should already understand the nature of energy, that moving objects, raised objects, and hot objects contain energy, and that energy can be transferred between objects
Pre-lesson Planning: Teacher activity - develop one or more guiding questions aligned with the learning goals for students to investigate
students who can give valid answers to the guiding question "If energy cannot be destroyed, what happens when it seems to disappear?" would meet the learning goals
Green energy
such as water, wind, and solar energy
Which of the following activities best helps students practice the process skill of communicating?
summarizing a scientific article about bees and their hives
Nicolaus Copernicus
sun is at the center of the solar system, not the earth (heliocentricity)
Which of the following is not true about systems?
systems remain constant and unchanging
Teacher Behavior - Engage: Generate interest, connect to previous learning, understand learning goals
teacher behavior: rouse curiosity, pose questions that develop interest, make connections to real life, activate prior knowledge, express learning goals
Teacher Behavior - Explain: Verbalize learning, define new terms, explain processes, correct misconceptions
teacher behavior: listen and guide as students explain observations and conclusions, define and explain new terms and processes, summarize new concepts, listen for, question, and correct misconceptions
Teacher Behavior - Elaborate: Extend learning to new situations and practice newly acquired skills
teacher behavior: present situations for extending thinking, evaluate skills, reteach and provide practice time as needed, coach students as they apply learning to new situations
Teacher Behavior - Explore: Students interact with materials and content, observe, manipulate, record, make sense.
teacher behavior: provide time and materials, coach students toward goals, listen and ask guiding questions, encourage cooperation and discussion
Teacher Behavior - Evaluate: Assess and reteach
teacher behavior: use formal and informal assessments, ask open-ended extension questions, use assessment results to inform the next lesson
Questioning strategies
techniques used to ask questions in a way that requires students to use the thinking that the teacher is trying to develop
Which of the following can lessen the impact human population growth has on the environment?
technology
Which of the following actions does NOT follow the principles of scientific ethics?
testing humans without their consent
Heliocentricity
the accepted astronomical model that the sun is at the center of our solar system. The theory was put forth by Copernicus in 1543 and expanded upon by Galileo in 1632
Function
the job or purpose of an object or part of a system
Example 1: An experiment on magnets was conducted to see how size affects the strength of a magnet. The student used magnets and paperclips. Which of the following is the most likely dependent variable? A. the types of magnets B. the size of the magnets C. the number of paperclips picked up D. the length of time the magnets held the paperclips E. the size of paperclips used
the number of paperclips picked up
Feedback loop (in systems)
the part of a system in which some (or all) of the system's output is used as input for future operations
Risk assessment
the process by which scientists analyze potential risks and benefits before conducting scientific investigations and experiments
Peer review
the process of fact checking by other experts in the same field; ensures the quality of published work
Scientific Method: Step 6
the scientist draws a conclusion stating whether the hypothesis was supported or rejected.
Scientific Method: Step 3
the scientist forms a hypothesis, a testable prediction based on the observations.
Scientific Method: Step 1
the scientist identifies the problem and attempts to explain it.
Scientific Method: Step 2
the scientist makes observations, recording information gathered using the five senses.
Scientific Method: Step 5
the scientist records and communicates data, their measurements and observations taken during the experiment.
Scientific Method: Step 7
the scientist reforms the hypothesis and designs a new experiment
Scientific Method: Step 4
the scientist tests the hypothesis in an investigation or experiment. In an experiment, a scientist will have a control group, a group that does not receive the experimental treatment, and an experimental group, a group that does.
Form
the shape of an object or part of a system
What is a proposed explanation, based on evidence that may or may not be testable. It unifies hypotheses and provides a general explanation for phenomena?
theory
Charles Darwin
theory of evolution
Albert Einstein
theory of relativity (related to gravity)
What is the most important use of a control group in an experimental investigation?
they are a baseline for the results
The goal of a science teacher...?
to provide a learning environment designed to encourage opportunities for hands-on experiments that lead students through the process of the scientific method.
Rosalind Franklin
used x-ray crystallography in her research on the DNA molecule
Which of the following activities would be best for having students practice the skill of inference?
using observations to determine why pine cones open as they age
To help students learn the discovery nature of the scientific method, teachers should provide opportunities for them to conduct experiments to practice the steps. Which of the following is the best task for the teacher during this experimentation process?
walking around the room, guiding students and answering questions
Natural resources are resources naturally occurring on Earth that are necessary or useful to humans. Natural resources include:
water, wood, and minerals
What is a feedback loop?
where results lead to more possible hypotheses and continued testing
Example 1: A teacher shows the class a beaker of ice and water. Which is the best guiding question for a unit on the difference between mass and density?
why does ice float on water?
