Physical Science: Diving Into Science

Sample Material

» Table of Contents (PDF)
» What's the Big Question (PDF)
» Learning Set 1 (PDF)

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The Big Question: How do scientists work together to solve problems?

Within a physical science context, students explore variables, reliable procedures, fair tests, and use evidence to construct explanations and make recommendations to answer the Big Question. Through a series of design challenges, students explore the practices of scientists, while learning about such fundamental physical science principles as mass, surface area, and forces.

Implements STEM initiative
Uses the Engineering Design Cycle

• factors that lead to variation
• factors that lead to variation of manipulated (independent) and responding (dependent) variables
• physics of falling objects

• asking questions
• building on the work of others
• careful observation
• criteria and constraints
• design process
• designing experiments
• developing explanations
• fair tests
• graphing

• graphing results
• independent and dependent variables
• inexactness and uncertainty in science
• interpreting data
• iteration
• making measurements
• reliability
• science of support
• using evidence
• using scientific tools

21ST CENTURY SKILLS
Collaboration
Communicating plans and ideas
Developing explanations
Finding trends in data
Critical thinking including:

• building on the work of others
• collecting, organizing, and analyzing data
• observations and interpretation using science knowledge
• using evidence to support claims