PI: Science Processes and Inquiry

PI.1: Observing is the first action taken by the learner to acquire new information about an object, organism, or event. Opportunities for observation are developed through the use of a variety of scientific tools. Measurement allows observations to be quantified. The student will accomplish these objectives to meet this process standard.

PI.1.2: Use appropriate tools (e.g., metric ruler, graduated cylinder, thermometer, balances, spring scales, stopwatches, computers, handheld data collection devices) to measure objects, organisms, and/or events.

Triple Beam Balance

PI.1.3: Use appropriate International System of Units (SI) (i.e., grams, meters, liters, degrees Celsius, and seconds) and SI prefixes (i.e. milli-, centi-, and kilo-) when measuring objects, organisms and/or events.

Triple Beam Balance

PI.2: Classifying establishes order. Objects, organisms, and events are classified based on similarities, differences, and interrelationships. The student will accomplish these objectives to meet this process standard.

PI.2.1: Using observable properties, place an object, organism, and/or event into a classification system (e.g., dichotomous keys, periodic table, biological hierarchy).

Dichotomous Keys

PI.3: Understanding experimental design requires that students recognize the components of a valid experiment. The student will accomplish these objectives to meet this process standard.

PI.3.1: Ask questions about the world and design investigations that lead to scientific inquiry. Identify testable questions based on prior knowledge, background research, or observations.

Hearing: Frequency and Volume
Real-Time Histogram
Sight vs. Sound Reactions
Time Estimation

PI.3.2: Evaluate the design of a scientific investigation.

Hearing: Frequency and Volume
Real-Time Histogram
Sight vs. Sound Reactions
Time Estimation

PI.3.3: Identify variables and/or controls in an experimental setup: independent variable and dependent variable.

Diffusion
Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Pendulum Clock
Seed Germination

PI.3.4: Identify a testable hypothesis for an experiment.

Diffusion
Effect of Temperature on Gender
Seed Germination

PI.3.5: Follow a multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.

Diffusion
Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Effect of Temperature on Gender
Pendulum Clock
Seed Germination

PI.4: Interpreting is the process of recognizing patterns in collected data by making inferences, predictions, or conclusions. Communicating is the process of describing, recording, and reporting experimental procedures and results to others. Communication may be oral, written, or mathematical and includes organizing ideas, using appropriate vocabulary, graphs, other visual representations, and mathematical equations. The student will accomplish these objectives to meet this process standard.

PI.4.1: Report and record both quantitative/qualitative data in an appropriate method when given an experimental procedure or data.

Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Pendulum Clock

PI.4.2: Interpret data tables, line, bar, trend, and/or circle graphs.

Distance-Time Graphs

PI.4.4: Determine if results of investigations support or do not support hypotheses.

Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Effect of Temperature on Gender
Pendulum Clock

PI.4.5: Communicate scientific processes, procedures, and conclusions (e.g., model, poster, diagram, journal entry, lab report, scientific paper, oral presentation, and digital presentation).

Hearing: Frequency and Volume

PI.5: Inquiry can be defined as the skills necessary to carry out the process of scientific thinking. In order for inquiry to occur students must have the opportunity to make observations, pose questions, formulate testable hypotheses, carry out experiments, and make conclusions based on evidence. The student will accomplish these objectives to meet this process standard.

PI.5.1: Ask questions that can be answered through scientific investigation.

Hearing: Frequency and Volume
Pendulum Clock
Sight vs. Sound Reactions

PI.5.2: Design and conduct experiments utilizing scientific processes.

Diffusion
Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Effect of Temperature on Gender
Growing Plants
Pendulum Clock
Real-Time Histogram
Seed Germination
Time Estimation

PI.5.4: Understand the value of technology and use technology to gather data and analyze results of investigations (e.g., probes, hand-held digital devices, digital cameras, software, computers, calculators, digital balances, GPS).

Trebuchet

1: Physical characteristics of objects can be described using shape, size, and mass. The materials from which objects are made can be described using color, texture, and hardness. These properties can be used to distinguish and separate one substance from another. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

1.1: Substances react chemically with other substances to form new substances with different characteristics (e.g., oxidation, combustion, acid/base reactions).

Chemical Changes
Chemical Equations

1.2: Matter has physical properties that can be measured (i.e., mass, volume, temperature, color, texture, density, and hardness) and chemical properties. In chemical reactions and physical changes, matter is conserved (e.g., compare and contrast physical and chemical changes).

Chemical Changes
Density Experiment: Slice and Dice
Density Laboratory

2: The motion of an object can be described by its position, direction of motion, and speed as prescribed by Newton?s Laws of Motion. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

2.1: The motion of an object can be measured. The position of an object, its speed, and direction can be represented on a graph.

Distance-Time Graphs
Distance-Time and Velocity-Time Graphs
Free Fall Tower
Free-Fall Laboratory

2.2: An object that is not being subjected to a net force will continue to move at a constant velocity (i.e., inertia, balanced and unbalanced forces).

Fan Cart Physics

3: Millions of species of animals, plants, and microorganisms are alive today. Although different species might look dissimilar, the unity among organisms becomes apparent from an analysis of internal and external structures. Adaptation involves the selection of naturally occurring variations in populations. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

3.1: By classifying organisms, biologists consider details of internal and external structure to infer the degree of relatedness among organisms (i.e., kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species).

Dichotomous Keys

4: The earth is mostly rock, three-fourths of its surface is covered by a relatively thin layer of water, and the entire planet is surrounded by a relatively thin blanket of air, and is able to support life. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

4.1: Landforms result from constructive forces such as crustal deformation, volcanic eruption, and deposition of sediment and destructive forces such as weathering and erosion.

Plate Tectonics

4.2: The formation, weathering, sedimentation, and reformation of rock constitute a continuing "rock cycle" in which the total amount of material stays the same as its form changes.

Rock Cycle

4.3: Atmospheric and ocean circulation patterns affect weather on a global scale (e.g., El Ninõ, La Ninã, Gulf Stream).

Coastal Winds and Clouds