Enduring Understandings - important ideas that students should carry with them years beyond the instruction received this year.

• After a review of available and pertinent information, scientists formulate a hypothesis. A scientific investigation uses a repeatable procedure to explore one independent variable and proper constants or controls.

• Scientists use evidence gained through scientific processes to explain the natural world.

• Recognizing bias and opinion is important when processing scientific information.

• Scientists communicate about and critique each others work.

• A valid hypothesis or theory must accommodate new data or the hypothesis or theory must be changed.

• The interdependent fields of science are connected through a particular way of knowing.

Essential Questions - most important “big picture” questions students should be able to answer after completing learning activities.

• Why is it important to continuously evaluate and revise scientific explanations and models?

• What makes a scientific conclusion valid and reliable? What is the importance of written communication in a scientific investigation? Why might there be alternative explanations and models?

• What is the importance of identifying alternative explanations and models? How do theories change over time? How does a scientific hypothesis drive an investigation?

• What are safe laboratory practices?

• What constitutes scientific evidence? What makes data valid and reliable?

• Why is it important to recognize patterns and trends in scientific data?

• How are systems kept in balance?

• How are models used to increase our understanding of the natural world?

• How do hypotheses and theories change over time?

Standards
Science Standard 1: Students apply the process of scientific investigation and design, conduct, communicate about, and evaluate such investigations.
Standard 1 Benchmarks: Grades 9-12
1. select and use appropriate technologies to gather, process, and analyze data and to report information related to an investigation
2. identify major sources or error or uncertainty within an investigation (for example: particular measuring devices and experimental procedures)
3. recognize and analyze alternative explanations and models
4. construct and revise scientific explanations and models, using evidence, logic, and experiments that include identifying and controlling variables
5. communicate and evaluate scientific thinking that leads to particular conclusions

Science Standard 5: Students understand that the nature of science involves a particular way of building knowledge and making meaning of the natural world.
Standard 5 Benchmarks: Grades 9-12
1. the scientific way of knowing uses a critique and consensus process; e.g., peer review, openness to criticism
2. graphs, equations or other models are used to analyze systems involving change and constancy; e.g., constructing a closed ecosystem
3. there is a difference between a scientific theory and a scientific hypothesis