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Enduring Understandings
- important ideas that students should carry with them years beyond the
instruction received this year.
- Scientists investigate the world around them and
communicate to others through the scientific process.
- The scientific process is the basis of an integrated
approach to understanding our world. (topic/problem, testable question,
hypothesis, procedure)
- Scientists use a plan to carry out an investigation
(variables, control, data, observations, investigations).
- Scientists select, appropriate tools to collect,
organize, and record data using the metric system in tables, charts, and
graphs. Scientists analyze data for reliability, validity to
form conclusions. Scientists analyze data to infer past and predict
future events.
- Scientists ask questions based on their
investigations and these questions can lead to new investigations.
- Scientists communicate the results of their
investigations in many formats and appropriate ways.
- Scientists identify, determine, compare, and control
variables. Scientists must be objective and bias free when examining
their work. Scientists communicate their results using various methods.
Scientists use models to predict change.
- The climate is a determining factor in supporting the
types of organisms within a biome
- The diversity of living things impacts how they
interact with each other and their environment.
- Food chains show transfer of energy within an ecosystem. Food webs
are made of many food chains.
- The availability of resources is a major limiting factor in
determining the number of organisms an ecosystem can support.
- Decomposers play an essential role in the recycling of resources in
an ecosystem.
- The world population uses both renewable and
nonrenewable resources. The world is affected by the interrelationship of
science and technology. New technology continually impacts human
activity.
- New technology continually impacts human activity.
- Experiments must be controlled and have reproducible
results.
- Scientists identify, determine, compare, and control
variables. Scientists must be objective and bias free when
examining their work. Scientists communicate their results using various
methods.
- Scientists use models to predict change.
- Safety is a primary concern with all laboratory
techniques.
Essential Questions
- most important “big picture” questions students should be able to answer
after completing learning activities.
- What is a testable question that leads to a proposed
hypothesis? How is a testable question developed
- How do scientists design a plan for investigating a
testable questions? How is an investigation organized?
- How do scientists develop and perform a scientific
investigation? What are the independent/manipulated and
dependent/responding variables? What is the standard of control?
- What are the appropriate tools, technologies, and
measurement systems used by scientists?
- How do scientists interpret and evaluate data? How do
scientists infer/predict past and future events?
- What new questions have arisen based on unexpected
results of the investigation? How is scientific information effectively
communicated to specific audiences?
- How is scientific information effectively
communicated to specific audiences?
- What are the differences between and uses of
renewable and nonrenewable resources?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of
using technology to solve problems?
- How has technology influenced the way people work?
What are advantages/disadvantages created by new technology?
- How do controlled/uncontrolled variables affect the
outcomes of experiment
- How do you identify, compare, and control
variables in an investigation?
- How does bias, opinion, and evidence affect the
way science is communicated in various media?
- What are some different sources and methods a
scientist uses to collect and record data?
- How can models help us predict future outcomes?
- What are safe laboratory practices?
Standards
 Highest
Frequency Standards
 High
Frequency Standards,
 Other
Standards & E-skills
Standard 1: Students understand the processes of
scientific investigations and design, conduct, communicate about, and
evaluate such investigation.
Standard 2: Physical Science: Students know and
understand common properties, forms, and changes in matter and energy.
Students know that matter has characteristic properties which are
related to its composition and structure. Students understand that
energy appears in different forms and can move (be transferred) and
change (be transformed). Students understand that interactions can
produce changes in a system, although the total quantities of matter and
energy remain unchanged.
Standard 3: Life Science Students know and understand the
characteristics and structures of living things, the processes of life and
how living things interact with each other and their environment. Students
know and understand the characteristics of living things, the diversity of
life, and how living things interact with each other and with their
environment. Students know and understand interrelationships of matter and
energy in living systems. Students know and understand how the human body
functions, factors that influence its structures and functions compared with
those of other organisms. Students know and understand how organisms change
over time in terms of biological evolution and genetics.
Standard 5: Students understand that the nature of science involves
a particular way of building knowledge and making meaning of the natural
world.
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Sample Units
District
11 Diamond Units/Lessons Overview - includes information about the
purpose, goals and structure of these sample instructional units:
Lesson
1: Identifying Scientific Variables
Duration: @ 1 class period
Standard 1: Students understand the processes of
scientific investigations and design, conduct, communicate about, and
evaluate such investigation.
Standard 3: Life Science Students know and understand the
characteristics and structures of living things, the processes of life and
how living things interact with each other and their environment.
Enduring Understanding: Scientists investigate the world around them and
communicate to others through the scientific process.
Essential Questions: How do scientists develop and perform a
scientific investigation? What are the independent/manipulated,
dependent, and responding variables? What is the standard of control?
Assessment:
Activities
- View the
Saving Colorado's Black Footed Ferret video. Think about the
variables, scientists must consider as they work to save this endangered
species and re-enter it into the northern Colorado plains.
- Use the materials in the
Learning Guide to make predictions, gather information, analyze
data, and develop a hypothesis. Share your findings with your
classmates.
- National Geographic's
Strange Days on Planet Earth. Create a web showing the interactions
and interdependence of variables discussed in the website.
Resources
Differentiation
Extension:
Support:
Lesson
1: Environmental Biomes
Duration: @ 1 class period
Standard:
Enduring Understanding:
Essential Questions:
Assessment:
Activities
Resources
Differentiation
Extension:
Support:
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Parents
When parents ask their teenagers what happened at school, they often get
very vague responses. You can demonstrate your support of your child's
learning by asking specific questions like, "What topic are you studying
this week in science? Share the topics you are interested in and why. While
driving together, there are games you can play to foster good communication.
Ask your teen to pick a science topic and quiz you by posing questions for
you to answer. Don't be intimidated if your child outscores you. Teaching
information to someone else is the best way to remember information.
You will be giving your teen an opportunity to demonstrate his or her
understanding of science information, and boost his or her confidence in
learning. |
