Inquiry skills will be assessed only in the context of physical, Earth/space, and life sciences content.

Academic Expectation: 2.1 Scientific Ways of Thinking and Working

Students Will

• I-1 formulate testable hypotheses and demonstrate the logical connections between the scientific concepts guiding a hypothesis and the design of an experiment.
• I-2 use equipment, tools, techniques, technology, and mathematics to improve scientific investigations and communications.
• I-3 use evidence, logic, and scientific knowledge to develop and revise scientific explanations and models.
• I-4 design and conduct different kinds of scientific investigations.
• I-5 communicate and defend the designs, procedures, observations, and results of scientific investigations.
• I-6 review and analyze scientific investigations and explanations of other investigators, including peers.

Application/Connection skills will be assessed only in the context of Physical, Earth/space, and Life Sciences content

Academic Expectations:  2.2 Patterns of Change, 2.3 Systems, 2.4 Scale and Models, 2.5 Constancy, and 2.6 Change Over Time

Science and Technology

• AC-1 Students will apply scientific theory and conceptual understandings to solve problems on technological design and examine the interaction between science and technology

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

• AC-2 Students will explore the impact of scientific knowledge and discoveries on personal and community health; recognize how science influences human population growth, use science to analyze the use of natural resources by an increasing human population; investigate how science can be used to solve environmental quality problems, use science to investigate natural and human-induced hazards; and analyze how science and technology are necessary but not sufficient for solving local, national, and global issues.

History and Nature of Science

• AC-3 analyze the role science plays in everyday life and compare different careers in science; recognize that scientific knowledge comes from empirical standards, logical arguments, and skepticism, and is subject to change as new evidence becomes available; and investigate advances in science and technology that have important and long-lasting effects on science and society.