Big Idea 2 : The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge



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A: Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, and is appropriate for understanding the natural world, but it provides only a limited understanding of the supernatural, aesthetic, or other ways of knowing, such as art, philosophy, or religion.

B: Scientific knowledge is durable and robust, but open to change.

C: Because science is based on empirical evidence it strives for objectivity, but as it is a human endeavor the processes, methods, and knowledge of science include subjectivity, as well as creativity and discovery.

General Information

Number: SC.5.N.2
Title: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 5
Body of Knowledge: Nature of Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks
Code Description
SC.5.N.2.1: Recognize and explain that science is grounded in empirical observations that are testable; explanation must always be linked with evidence.
SC.5.N.2.2: Recognize and explain that when scientific investigations are carried out, the evidence produced by those investigations should be replicable by others.


Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.5.N.2.In.1: Identify that science knowledge is based on observations and evidence.
SC.5.N.2.In.2: Recognize that experiments involve procedures that can be repeated the same way by others.

Supported

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.5.N.2.Su.1: Recognize that science knowledge is based on careful observations.
SC.5.N.2.Su.2: Recognize the importance of following correct procedures when carrying out science experiments.

Participatory

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.5.N.2.Pa.1: Recognize the importance of making careful observations.
SC.5.N.2.Pa.2: Recognize that a common activity can be repeated.


Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Name Description
Replication Is Validation!:

Discover why it's important for scientists to replicate the procedures used in earlier scientific investigations to validate the findings or results in this interactive tutorial.

Let's Investigate:

Learn how to recognize and explain that science is based on testable observations and that explanations for observations must be linked to evidence in this interactive tutorial.

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Ultimate Building Miami:

Students will explore how climate change impacts Miami by examining issues such as sea level rise, intensified hurricanes, and extreme heat. Students will be given a scenario directing them to design a building in Miami that can withstand an issue exacerbated by climate change. They will then work together as a class to create the ultimate building in Miami, one that can withstand multiple impacts of climate change.

Using Machine Learning and Computational Thinking to Train an AI Model:

Students will explore Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use computational thinking and Machine Learning (ML) to pretrain a model to recognize and identify objects, including geometric shapes and aircraft. They will used unplugged activities to mimic sorting and classification of the objects using their prior knowledge and then make connections to human learning and Machine Learning. Students will then problem solve and propose solutions using computational thinking to improve the ML model to better recognize the objects. This lesson is an integrated Computer Science, Science and Math lesson designed for students in grades 3-5 to apply math and science content knowledge while exploring and using computational thinking as they think like Computer Engineers and reflect on potential career paths.

Just Right Goldilocks’ Café: Temperature & Turbidity:

This is lesson 3 of 3 in the Goldilocks’ Café Just Right unit. This lesson focuses on systematic investigation on getting a cup of coffee to be the “just right” temperature and turbidity level. Students will use both the temperature probe and turbidity sensor and code using ScratchX during their investigation.

Just Right Goldilocks’ Café: Turbidity:

This is lesson 2 of 3 in the Just Right Goldilocks’ Café unit. This lesson focuses on systematic investigation on getting a cup of coffee to be the “just right” level of turbidity. Students will use turbidity sensors and code using ScratchX during their investigation.

Just Right Goldilocks’ Café: Temperature:

This is lesson 1 of 3 in the Just Right Goldilocks’ Café unit. This lesson focuses on systematic investigation on getting a cup of coffee to be the “just right” temperature. Students will use temperature probes and code using ScratchX during their investigation.

 

Gr. 5 Lesson 1-Incredible Shrinking Habitat:

Students will become Florida panthers, white tailed deer, and motor vehicles in an active, tag-like game to simulate the disappearance of Everglades habitat.

Weather: How Does Temperature Affect Air?:

In this lesson students will perform experiments and collect data to gather empirical evidence about how air molecules behave when heated and cooled. This is the 4th lesson in the 5th grade unit and  uses sensors and computer science skills to learn about weather.

Weather: How Does Air Warm Up?:

This experiment will model how sunlight striking the Earth’s surface warms the air around us. Students will investigate how surfaces of differing reflectivity determine how much sunlight is absorbed and converted to heat which in turn serves to warm the adjacent air.

This is lesson 3 in the fifth grade unit on weather. The lesson uses weather sensors and connects computer science concepts within the lesson.

Bridge to Perfection:

During this activity, students will read a book about the Brooklyn Bridge. After whole class discussion, children will explore different types of bridges and data, in order to decipher which bridge is the strongest. The students will work collaboratively in groups with assigned student roles. Students will utilized Higher Order thinking to create a solution. The culminating activity is a presentation of solution to whole class.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Follow the Water Lesson 1: Filtration Station:

Water is essential for human health, but it can sometimes be contaminated. Water filtration can filter out contaminants and impurities making water much safer to consume. But what is the best way to filter water? Students will participate in a water filtration engineering challenge to try out different combinations of materials to find which works best. This lesson was developed by the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science with support from the Weo Foundation.

Volume Lesson:

In this lesson, students explore different methods for calculating volume.

What It's Made Of: A Solute to Mixture or Solution:

In this lesson, students will explore samples to determine properties of components of mixtures. Over the course of the exploration, the teacher will guide the students to discover what sets a solution apart. Access points included.

Teaching Ideas

Name Description
Circuit Sense: In this activity about electricity, learners identify closed and open circuits. First, learners examine and label diagrams of open and closed circuits. Then, learners build each of the circuits shown in the diagrams using electrical supplies. Throughout the activity, learners predict and then test if the light bulbs will turn on based on the circuit type.
Compost Growth Challenge-A SeaWorld Classroom Activity: Students will compare and contrast the growth rate of plants grown in different soils.

Unit/Lesson Sequences

Name Description
Substances Dealing With Heat:

The students will conduct an experiment with water so they can see H2O in all three of its states of matter. The students will conduct another experiment to see the effects temperature has on the decomposition process of an organism. They will also learn how heat speeds up the molecules in an object causing it to become hot. Students will experiment to see the effects heat will have on calcium.

Galaxies and Solar Systems:

The students will learn all about outer space in this lesson. They will make a model of a galaxy and learn the vocabulary that relates to this topic. The students will also learn how to classify a planet and describe its features. They will be taught about the Earth's position in the solar system as well as that of the other planets in our solar system. The students will also learn how to classify between the different objects that are in our solar system.



Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Title Description
Replication Is Validation!:

Discover why it's important for scientists to replicate the procedures used in earlier scientific investigations to validate the findings or results in this interactive tutorial.

Let's Investigate:

Learn how to recognize and explain that science is based on testable observations and that explanations for observations must be linked to evidence in this interactive tutorial.