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.6.N.2
Title: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 6
Body of Knowledge: Nature of Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks
Code Description
SC.6.N.2.1: Distinguish science from other activities involving thought.
SC.6.N.2.2: Explain that scientific knowledge is durable because it is open to change as new evidence or interpretations are encountered.
SC.6.N.2.3: Recognize that scientists who make contributions to scientific knowledge come from all kinds of backgrounds and possess varied talents, interests, and goals.


Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.6.N.2.In.1: Identify familiar topics included in the study of science.
SC.6.N.2.In.2: Identify that scientific knowledge changes with new evidence or new interpretations.

Supported

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.6.N.2.Su.1: Recognize familiar topics in the study of science.
SC.6.N.2.Su.2: Recognize that scientific knowledge changes when new things are discovered.
SC.6.N.2.Su.3: Recognize contributions of well-known scientists.

Participatory

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.6.N.2.Pa.1: Recognize objects and pictures related to science.
SC.6.N.2.Pa.2: Recognize a scientist as a person who works with science.


Related Resources

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

Original Student Tutorials

Name Description
Math Models and Social Distancing:

Learn how math models can show why social distancing during a epidemic or pandemic is important in this interactive tutorial.

Expedition of the Earth:

Learn how scientific knowledge is open to change and how the knowledge about the Earth's surface has changed in the past 100 years as you complete this interactive tutorial.

Science Changes:

Explore the processes of science and how it changes over time. This interactive tutorial uses the historical development of The Cell Theory to illustrate these ideas.

Science Is by Everyone and for Everyone:

Learn about the amazing science discoveries by people from all over the world and all walks of life. In this interactive tutorial, you'll see that science is by and for everyone!

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Think Like a Scientist:

Students will read a fun article about a caveman named Fred and his journey to discover gravity. They will trace the evidence and then conflicting evidence as he explores the world around him. Students will then research obsolete scientific theories to discover the conflicting evidence that led to changes in real scientific knowledge.

Fossil DNA:

This is a lesson designed to help students explain that scientific knowledge is durable because it is open to change as new evidence or interpretations are encountered and site examples from the article that support that the history of science has changed due to new evidence or new interpretations being encountered through reading nonfiction text. This lesson follows the Comprehension Instructional Sequence (CIS) Model through a 5E lesson plan.

Journey through the Body - An Engineering Design Challenge:

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of the human body and organ systems from SC.6.L.14.5. It is not intended as an initial introduction to this benchmark.

The World of Scientists:

Students should understand that there are numerous scientists throughout history who have made extremely important contributions to our understanding of science and the world around us. Students will also understand that different scientists come from varying background, skills and interests all which lead them to research varying topics in the scientific world.

Perspectives Video: Expert

Name Description
Birdsong Series: STEM Team Collaboration : <p>Researchers Frank Johnson, Richard Bertram,&nbsp;Wei&nbsp;Wu, and Rick&nbsp;Hyson&nbsp;explore the necessity of scientific and mathematical collaboration in modern neuroscience, as it relates to their NSF research on birdsong.</p>

Presentation/Slideshow

Name Description
What is Science?:

Resource provides a succinct overview of the nature of science; what science is and is not. Information includes the aims of scientific pursuits, principles, process and thinking.

Teaching Idea

Name Description
Going on an Expedition-SeaWorld Classroom Activity: Students will use a variety of reference materials to research a subject and will relate the results of their research orally and in writing. They will describe the accomplishments of antarctic explorers and scientists.

Text Resources

Name Description
Antarctica: Mystery Continent Holds Key to Mankind's Future:

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Scientists from around the world and from many cultures visit Antarctica to conduct research on questions that matter to all mankind. There are a number of important lessons that can be learned through research in Antarctica, such as past carbon dioxide levels, ozone depletion, impacts of meteorites, air pollution, and sea level change.

11-year-old Designs a Better Sandbag, Named 'America's Top Young Scientist':

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This NBC News science article describes the success of a young inventor's polymer and salt filled sandbags, designed for more efficient flood protection and deployment.

Tutorial

Name Description
Antarctic Evidence:

Click "View Site" to open a full-screen version. This tutorial is designed to help secondary science teachers learn how to integrate literacy skills within their science curriculum. This tutorial focuses on using specific textual evidence to support students' responses as they analyze science texts. The focus on literacy across content areas is designed to help students independently build knowledge in different disciplines through reading and writing.



Student Resources

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

Original Student Tutorials

Title Description
Math Models and Social Distancing:

Learn how math models can show why social distancing during a epidemic or pandemic is important in this interactive tutorial.

Expedition of the Earth:

Learn how scientific knowledge is open to change and how the knowledge about the Earth's surface has changed in the past 100 years as you complete this interactive tutorial.

Science Changes:

Explore the processes of science and how it changes over time. This interactive tutorial uses the historical development of The Cell Theory to illustrate these ideas.

Science Is by Everyone and for Everyone:

Learn about the amazing science discoveries by people from all over the world and all walks of life. In this interactive tutorial, you'll see that science is by and for everyone!

Presentation/Slideshow

Title Description
What is Science?:

Resource provides a succinct overview of the nature of science; what science is and is not. Information includes the aims of scientific pursuits, principles, process and thinking.