School Administrative District #4

Unity of purpose

CORE CURRICULUM: SCOPE AND SEQUENCE

Department: Science

CONTENT STANDARD: INQUIRY AND PROBLEM SOLVING

 

Performance Indicators: The learner will·

Kindergarten

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Recognize that basic properties of objects are identified through direct observation via the five senses (i.e., sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste)

3.        Associate each of the five senses with the appropriate sense organ (i.e., eyes, nose, ears, skin, tongue) that allows him/her to seek, find, take in, and react or respond to information from his/her environment

4.        Demonstrate an understanding of some basic sensory descriptors (e.g., bright, dull, high, low, loud, soft, sweet, sour, bitter, salty, rough, smooth, cold, warm)

5.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Make a prediction (a hypothesis) regarding an experiment and propose questions ("who," "what," and "where" questions) he/she expects to be answered

á         Investigate objects, using the five senses

á         Examine groups of objects and note a single property (e.g., size, shape, color)

á         Select objects based on a single property

á         Make accurate observations, using tools and non-standard units of measure

á         Describe observations after using manipulatives (e.g., Unifix cubes) in terms of descriptive units of measure

á         Identify a variable in an investigation

á         Identify and extend simple patterns, sequences, and relationships in daily life

á         Weather

á         Shapes and forms of many common natural objects (e.g., seeds, leaves)

á         Home and school routines

6.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to use results of an investigation in a purposeful way, including making predictions based on observed patterns

Grade 1

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Make a prediction (hypothesis based on observed patterns) regarding an experiment and propose questions ("why," "how," and "when" questions) he/she expects to be answered

á         Examine objects and note multiple properties

á         Sort objects according to two given properties, as well as self-selected criteria

á         Examine changes in objects and events

á         Make accurate observations, using metric measuring tools and standard units of measure

á         Make and compare measurements, using standard and non-standard units

á         Participate in an investigation in which a variable is changed

á         Collect data over time

á         Explore cause-and-effect relationships

á         Recognize, extend, and create patterns

á         Seasonal changes

á         Human changes (e.g., dress, recreation, work)

á         Changes in plants (e.g., budding, falling leaves, wilting)

3.        Use results of an investigation in a purposeful way, i.e., make predictions based on observed patterns and interpret data to make predictions

Grade 2

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Ask questions that can be tested

á         Make accurate observations, using tools and units of measure

á         Record accurate observations with three or more different media, using appropriate tools and units of measure

á         Repeat observations to improve accuracy

á         Differentiate between observation and personal interpretation

á         Sort objects, given multiple criteria

á         Explore sequential (chronological) relationships

á         Recognize, extend, and create patterns

á         Changes in animals (e.g., hibernation, migration)

á         Animal life cycles

á         Effects of seasonal and weather changes on humans, animals, plants, and the environment (e.g., hibernation, migration, aestivation, camouflage, adaptation, dormancy, erosion)

á         Construct simple physical models to make sense of data

3.        Identify products which were invented to solve a problem

Grade 3

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2 .        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Convert questions into statements (hypotheses) that can be tested

á         Use operational definitions

á         Make accurate observations, using tools and units of measure

á         Measure length, mass, volume, temperature, and time to the nearest centimeter, meter, gram, kilogram, milliliter and liter, degree Celsius, second and minute, respectively

á         Recognize, extend, and create a variety of patterns and cycles

á         Plant life cycles

á         Water cycle

á         Collect data, using a variety of instruments

á         Construct abstract models to make sense of data

3.        As part of a group, design, construct, and evaluate a product, i.e., conduct a technological investigation

Grade 4

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Identify variables that cause change

á         Collect data from multiple or repeated trials

á         Use appropriate metric measures and instruments to collect, record, and report data

á         Recognize, extend, and create a variety of patterns and cycles

á         Motions of the Earth, moon, and sun (i.e., revolution and rotation)

á         Sequences of natural phenomena (e.g., day and night, phases of the moon, tides)

á         Classify data by function or relationship

á         Organize and manipulate data

á         Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to support inferences and conclusions with evidence

á         Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to recognize when numerical data are contradictory or unusual

á         Modify hypotheses

á         Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to plan, design, conduct, and evaluate an experiment as part of a group

3.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of how differences in time, place, or experimenter can lead to different data

4.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of how differences in conclusions can be derived from the same data

5.        Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to verify and evaluate scientific investigations and use the results in a purposeful way, i.e., design fair tests, make predictions based on observed patterns, and interpret data to make further predictions

6.        As an individual, design, construct, and evaluate a product, i.e., conduct a technological investigation

Grade 5

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Use instruments to examine changes

á         Recognize, extend, and create patterns and cycles

á         Rock cycle

á         Identify evidence that supports a hypothesis

á         Use classification systems based on multiple attributes

á         Support inferences and conclusions with evidence

3.        Explain how differences in time, place, or experimenter can lead to different data

4.        Explain how differences in conclusions can be derived from the same data

5.        Verify and evaluate scientific investigations and use the results in a purposeful way, i.e., design fair tests, make predictions based on observed patterns, and interpret data to make further predictions

Grade 6

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to state hypotheses in ways that identify the independent (manipulated) and dependent (responding) variables

á         Make observations involving discrimination between similar objects and organisms

á         Record precise and approximate measures

á         Use scale models to estimate distance, volume, and quantity

á         Devise a method to test the validity of a hypothesis or inference

á         Repeat investigations before accepting or rejecting a hypothesis or inference

Grade 7

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         State hypotheses in ways that identify the independent (manipulated) and dependent (responding) variables

á         Recognize that there is more than one way to solve a problem

á         Identify constants

á         Control variables to test a hypothesis

á         Identify sources of experimental error

á         Demonstrate an initial understanding of how to plan, design, conduct, and evaluate an experiment as an individual

Grade 8

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Plan, design, conduct, and evaluate his/her own investigation which includes controlled experiments and systematic observations

á         Recognize when numerical data are contradictory or unusual

3.        Compare and contrast the processes of scientific inquiry and the technological/ scientific method

4.        Explain how personal bias can affect observations

Grade 9

1.      Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Make accurate observations using appropriate tools and units of measure

Grade 10

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Verify, evaluate, and use results in a purposeful way÷including analyzing and interpreting data, making predictions based on observed patterns, testing solutions against the original problem conditions, and formulating additional questions

Grade 11

1.        Review and extend prior learning

2.        Ask questions and propose strategies and materials to seek answers to questions, i.e., conduct an investigation

á         Use scientific inquiry and the technological/scientific method with short- and long-term investigations, recognizing that there is more than one way to solve a problem and demonstrating knowledge of when to try different strategies

3.        Design and construct a device to perform a specific function and then redesign to improve performance, cost efficiency, etc.

Grade 12

1.        Review and extend prior learning

07/16/98

curr-science-inquiry and problem solving-scope.doc