Science is all around us. It’s in the garden as we care for plants. We use scientific knowledge to battle illnesses and create training plans to run marathons. We wake up every morning and evaluate the weather conditions. Through scientific literacy, we can understand and make informed decisions.
What is scientific literacy?
Science literacy isn’t about reading books with scientific themes. It’s about understanding scientific concepts and processes. It starts with knowing basic science concepts, but that’s only the beginning. Applying that knowledge is just as important as understanding it.
Scientific literacy enables us to use scientific knowledge for many different purposes. Understanding scientific concepts and processes makes it possible to evaluate personal choices, positively impact society, and weigh evidence when solving problems. That’s because scientific literacy is all about how science affects our world.
The power and importance of science literacy
Students who explore scientific concepts and processes are better prepared to think critically and craft logical conclusions. They understand the importance of interpreting and summarizing data with thoughtful evaluation.
Science literacy allows students to use their natural curiosity and apply reasoning to all sorts of encounters throughout daily life. Tools for discerning the accuracy of information are helpful, especially when students are confronted with advice and instructions in and out of the classroom.
Science literacy in the classroom
When evaluating the importance of science literacy in the classroom, incorporating science with other content areas is crucial. Scientific literacy helps students learn about inquiry, assess credible sources, and engage in conversations based on facts.
Students can read nonfiction and fiction selections that highlight scientific innovations and reinforce their understanding of scientific concepts. Social studies and humanities courses are natural fits with science. Of course, math and science go hand in hand. Students need to see the intersection of science with other disciplines.
What does it mean to be scientifically literate?
Curious, inquisitive, concerned, interested—those words can describe someone who is scientifically literate. A scientifically literate person not only understands scientific concepts but can also use and communicate the information. Applying scientific knowledge is part of daily life, and a scientifically literate person recognizes that.
Think about the weather. A scientifically literate person understands what the meteorologist says and how that might affect the coming days. They can take that information and use it to plan activities, keeping things like temperature, humidity, and precipitation in mind.
Whether it’s using a recipe to bake cookies, recycling plastic bottles, or plugging into electricity to charge phones, science is all around us. Science literacy helps us understand problems and find solutions. So, ask the questions, make observations, and evaluate predictions! Scientific literacy brings scientific understanding, use, and communication to everyday experiences.
Looking for innovative and engaging ways to bring scientific literacy to your students? Gizmos and Science4Us open up the world of science to students from kindergarten through high school. Give them a try.
Make chemistry come alive for your students in grades 3+ with Gizmos virtual simulations.
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Let the youngest learners experiment with chemistry through these experiments featured in Science4Us.
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