TN Physical Science Standards

Embedded Inquiry

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Physical Science: Embedded Inquiry
Checks for Understanding Inq.1 | Inq.2 | Inq.3 | Inq.4 | Inq.5 | Inq.6 | Inq.7 | Inq.8
Science Curriculum Standards 3202 - Physical Science	Internet Resources
Trace the historical development of a scientific principle or theory. 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 - a multimedia instructional design site intended to teach students the scientific method Scientific Method Lab - an interactive lab that teaches what the scientific method is, and how scientists and others follow this method Scientific Method Quiz Solving Problems with the Scientific Method - posted by Study Guides and Strategies Steps of the Scientific Method - from a science fair project idea site, includes a good concept map 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
Select appropriate tools and technology to collect precise and accurate quantitative and qualitative data. Inq.3	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.4	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
Compare or combine experimental evidence from two or more investigations. Inq.5
Recognize, analyze, and evaluate alternative explanations for the same set of observations. Inq.6
Analyze experimental results and identify possible sources of experimental error. Inq.7	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.8
State Performance Indicators SPI Inq.1 | SPI Inq.2 | SPI Inq.3 | SPI Inq.4 | SPI Inq.5 | SPI Inq.6 | SPI Inq.7 | SPI Inq.8
Select a description or scenario that reevaluates and/or extends a scientific finding. SPI Inq.1
Analyze the components of a properly designed scientific investigation. SPI Inq.2	Dependent and Independent Variables - Wikipedia entry Elementary Concepts in Statistics - use the index to find information on a large number of topics about variables How to Set-up a Controlled Science Experiment - eight steps from eHow.com Hypothesis 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 Independent and Dependent Variables - from Cool Science Projects.com Independent and Dependent Variables - identify the independent variable, dependent variable, experimental and control groups in three studies [not interactive] Independent and Dependent Variables - short explanation of each type of variable Variables and a Simple Pendulum Experiment - purpose; to explain the difference between mcontrolled, independent (manipulated), and dependent (responding) variables Variables and Hypotheses - to print and hand out to students; includes a table of examples and self help evaluation questions Variables in a Science Fair Experiment - from Science Buddies What are Independent and Dependent Variables - from a graphing tutorial found at NCES
Determine appropriate tools to gather precise and accurate data. SPI Inq.3	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
Evaluate the accuracy and precision of data. SPI Inq.4	Accuracy and Precision - from Wikipedia The Difference Between Accuracy and Precision - theoretical examples of accuracy and precition in a meteorological instrument Math Skills Review: Significant Figures - pointing out the relationship between accuracy of measurement and the number of significant figures to be reported Precision and Accuracy - good explanation, and diagram, from Math is Fun Precision and Accuracy - This Jr. High Math site points out the importance of using measurement devices that are as precise as possible. The Science of Measurement: Accuracy vs. Precision - "The dictionary definitions of these two words do not clearly make the distinction as it is used in the science of measurement."
Defend a conclusion based on scientific evidence. SPI Inq.5
Determine why a conclusion is free of bias. SPI Inq.6	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
Compare conclusions that offer different, but acceptable explanations for the same set of experimental data. SPI Inq.7