TN Biology II Standards - 2008-2009 Implementation

Embedded Inquiry

site for teachers | PowerPoint show | Acrobat document | Word document | whiteboard resource | sound | video format | interactive lesson | a quiz | lesson plan | to print

Checks for Understanding Inq.1 | Inq.2 | Inq.3 | Inq.4 | Inq.5 | Inq.6 | Inq.7 | Inq.8 | Inq.9 | Inq.10 | Inq.11 | Inq.12
Science Curriculum Standards 3216 - Biology II	Internet Resources
Trace the historical development of a scientific principle or theory, such as cell theory, evolution, or DNA structure. Inq.1	About Darwin - dedicated to the life and times of Charles Darwin Development of Kepler's Laws - this Wikipedia article traces Kepler's work Cell Theory - includes a timeline of development of the theory Galileo Project - hypertextual information about Galileo and the science of his time to viewers of all ages and levels of expertise Gregor Mendel: Planting the Seeds of Genetics - an exhibit from Chicago's Field Museum Historical Development of Chemistry - three case studies of significant chemical progress History of Science - Wikipedia article History of Science and Technology - a Wikipedia article including links History of Science Sourcebook - a subset of texts derived from three major online sourcebooks Isaac Newton - Wikipedia article tracing the development of Newton's laws Johannes Kepler - His Life, His Laws and Times Mendel's Experiment - an animation describes Gregor Mendel's experiment as presented in his Experiments in Plant Hybridization Modeling Mendel's Pea Experiment - lesson plan from Access Excellence Person of the Century: Albert Einstein - from Time’s 100 Scientific Method - this Wikipedia article illustrates how scientific principles or theories are developed Voyage of the Beagle - index of trwenty-two chapters detailing the historic voyage of discovery Watson and Crick describe structure of DNA - from PBS's Science Odyssey When the Earth Moved - Copernicus and his Heliocentric System of the Universe
Conduct scientific investigations that include testable questions, verifiable hypotheses, and appropriate variables to explore new phenomena or verify the experimental results of others. Inq.2	Excite Education Curriculum Module - lesson plan about scientific method from CDC Experimenting, Testing, & Challenging the Hypothesis - the degree of challenge to your hypothesis will depend on the type of problem and its importance Falsifiability – [Wikipedia article] the logical possibility that an assertion can be shown false by an observation or a physical experiment General Procedures for All Experiments - general procedures for each experiment are briefly outlined - variations between experiments are noted How to Formulate a Hypothesis Using the Scientific Method - eight steps are outlined Introduction to the Scientific Method - An explanation on what the scientific method is and does. From Frank Wolfs, University of Rochester Reasoning in Science - Learning about the scientific method is almost like saying that you are learning how to learn [from Biology4Kids] Scientific Method - from Elmer's Soup-to-Nuts science fair site Scientific Method - includes a test of your powers of observation Scientific Method Lab - an interactive lab that teaches what the scientific method is, and how scientists and others follow this method Scientific Method Quiz - [this link opens on a new page] Solving Problems with the Scientific Method - posted by Study Guides and Strategies Steps of the Scientific Method - from a science fair project idea site Studying Cells - how the scientific method is applied in biology Writing Hypotheses: a student lesson - the purpose of this lesson is to learn when and how to write hypotheses
Analyze the components of a properly designed scientific investigation. Inq.3	Conducting a Scientific Investigation - a two part lesson plan - Part 2 of the lesson plan Doing Science: The Process of Scientific Inquiry - a web based lesson plan from the National Institutes of Health How Science works: Types of Variables - Explains the difference between 'categoric', 'ordered', 'discrete' and 'continuous' variables, with examples. How Science works: Variables - Explains the meaning of 'independent', 'dependent' and 'control' variables, with examples from typical practicals. How to Perform Your Experiment - get help planning an experiment from a science fair coaching site Identify the Controls and Variables - worksheet to print and use in class [the author of this activity probably violated copyright by using Simpson's characters, but you will not be guilty if you use it in class] Information about the Process of Scientific Inquiry - explains six important elements of scientific inquiry
Select appropriate tools and technology to collect precise and accurate quantitative and qualitative data. Inq.4	British and Metric Conversions - a series of pages relating to converting to or from metric units Calculating the Density of a Liquid - tutorial on the math involved plus sample questions Calculating Density of a Solid - tutorial on the math involved plus sample questions Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius - interactive problem from Annenberg Converting Length Measurements - use your knowledge of meters, centimeters and millimeters to answer questions to build a shed Finding the Mass of an Object - tutorial on using a triple-beam balance which includes questions to answer Finding the Volume of an Object - tutorial on using a graduated cylinder which includes questions to answer Platform Scales Addition - weigh several items and find the sum in hundredths of a gram or Platform Scales Subtraction - weigh several items and find the difference in hundredths of a gram or Teaching Measures - links to length, mass, or capacity activities and printables - good for using on an interactive whiteboard for a whole class activity Transparency Master - use this high quality picture of a block of metal on a triple beam balance as a review for your students Using a Graduated Cylinder - [L and mL] a whole class activity for reading a scale, estimating and converting between units or Using a Platform Scale - practice using scales like the one in a doctor's office, five Gregs will drop on the scale, waiting to be weighed, see how quickly you can weigh them or Using a Ruler - a whole class activity for reading a ruler, estimating and converting between units or
Determine if data supports or contradicts a hypothesis or conclusion Inq.5	Basic format of any hypothesis test - from Skills4Study Designing Science Experiments - from Crystal Clear Science Fair Projects Experiment - Wikipedia entry How to Use the Scientific Method to Test a Hypothesis - six steps are listed Hypothesis Test - from Cool Science Projects.com Hypothesis test 1: an experiment on telepathy - used as an example of the process Hypothesis test 2: the shuffle test - using statistical analysis Practicing Scientific Processes - from Glencoe Science Statistical hypothesis testing - Wikipedia entry Test Your Hypothesis - from Lane Libraries Science Fair Zone
Recognize, analyze, and evaluate alternative explanations for the same set of observation Inq.6
Evaluate the accuracy and precision of data. Inq.7	Data Collection and Estimation - lesson plan addressing how the tool selected to collect data affects the accuracy and precision of the measurements made - designed for grades 4-6, but can be adapted to teach high school students about accuracy and precision Error, Accuracy & Precision - definitions and examples in relation to GIS spatial datasets
Defend a conclusion based on scientific evidence. Inq.8	Information about the Process of Scientific Inquiry - explains six important elements of scientific inquiry Misconceptions About Science - [designed for teachers] explains and corrects some common misconceptions about science and how it works
Determine why a conclusion is free of bias. Inq.9
Analyze experimental results and identify possible sources of experimental error. Inq.10	Bad Science - from Mr. Sunspot's answer book Biased Sample - also known as: Biased Statistics, Loaded Sample, Prejudiced Statistics, Prejudiced Sample, Loaded Statistics, Biased Induction, Biased Generalization (3 good examples at the bottom of the page) Blind Experiment - ways top avoid conscious or unconscious bias Confirmation Bias In Science: How To Avoid It - regarding one of the most common arguments against a scientific finding Experimenter Bias - includes ways to avoid bias in an experiment [this page comes from the Internet Archive known as the Wayback Machine] Experimenter's Bias - Wikipedia entry on the subject How Science works: Reliable evidence and Valid evidence - Explains the meaning of 'data' and 'evidence', 'reliability' and 'validity', 'secondary' evidence, with examples for you to discuss. Common Mistakes in Applying the Scientific Method - discussion regarding experimenter bias
Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models using logic and evidence. Inq.11
Compare conclusions that offer different, but acceptable explanations for the same set of experimental data. Inq.12