School Administrative District #4

Unity of purpose

CORE CURRICULUM: SCOPE AND SEQUENCE

Department: Science

CONTENT STANDARD: IMPLICATIONS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Scientific and technological breakthroughs are influenced by prevailing beliefs and conditions which in turn are impacted by new ideas and inventions. By assessing the impacts of technological activity on the environment, one can develop his/her own sense of global stewardship. All students will understand the historical, social, economic, environmental, and ethical implications of science and technology.

 

Performance Indicators: The learner will·

Kindergarten-Grade 4

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Demonstrate an understanding that legend, story, and scientific explanation are different ways to explain the world

3.        Describe some inventions: what they do, how they work, and how they have made life easier

4.        Identify commonly used resources, their sources, and the place where their waste products go

5.        Demonstrate some recycling practices and care of resources

6.        Investigate and describe the role of scientists and inventors

7.        Explain how his/her life would be different without specific inventions or scientific knowledge

8.        Explore how cultures have found different technological solutions to deal with similar needs or problems (e.g., construction, clothing, agricultural tools and methods)

9.        Explore how technology (e.g., transportation, irrigation) has altered human settlement

10.    Demonstrate an understanding that renewable and non-renewable resources have limits and explain practices for conservation in daily life

11.    Explain the connections between and among industry, natural resources, population, and economic development

Grades 5-8

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Research and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological developments

3.        Describe the historic and cultural conditions at the time of an invention or discovery and analyze the social impacts of that invention

4.        Discuss the ethical issues surrounding a specific scientific or technological development

5.        Describe an individual's biological and non-biological impact on the environmental system

6.        Identify factors that have caused some countries to become leaders in science and technology

7.        Explain how most actions have expected and unexpected consequences that may prove positive and negative

8.        Recognize scientific and technological contributions of diverse people, e.g., women, individuals with diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, the physically disabled

Grades 9-12

1.      Review and extend prior learning

2.      Examine the impact of political decisions on science and technology

3.      Demonstrate the importance of resource management, controlling environmental impacts, and maintaining natural ecosystems

4.      Evaluate the ethical use of new scientific or technological developments

5.      Analyze the impacts of various scientific and technological developments

6.      Examine the historical relationships between prevailing cultural beliefs and breakthroughs in science and technology

7.      Research issues that illustrate the effects of technological imbalances and suggest some solutions

07/16/98

curr-science-implications of science and technology-scope.doc