PI: Science Processes and Inquiry

PI.3: Experimenting is a method of discovering information. It requires making observations and measurements to test ideas. The student will accomplish these objectives to meet this process standard.

PI.3.3: Design and conduct a scientific investigation.

Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Pendulum Clock

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 data using tables, line, bar, trend, and/or simple circle graphs.

Graphing Skills

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

Graphing Skills
Prairie Ecosystem

PI.5: Inquiry can be defined as the skills necessary to carry out the process of scientific or systemic thinking. In order for inquiry to occur, students must have the opportunity to ask a question, formulate a procedure, and observe phenomena. The student will accomplish these objectives to meet this process standard.

PI.5.1: Use different ways to investigate questions and evaluate the fairness of the test.

Effect of Environment on New Life Form
Pendulum Clock

1: The position of a moving object can be described relative to a stationary object or the background. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

1.1: The position and motion of objects can be changed by pushing or pulling. The size of the change is related to the strength of the push or pull.

Force and Fan Carts

1.2: The motion of an object can be described by tracing and measuring its position over time.

Free Fall Tower

2: Energy is the ability to do work or to cause a change in matter. Forms of energy include electricity, heat (thermal), light and sound. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

2.1: Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge.

2.1.a: The flow of electricity is controlled by open and closed circuits.

Circuit Builder

2.1.b: Some materials are conductors of electricity while others are insulators.

Circuit Builder

2.2: Heat results when substances burn, when certain kinds of materials rub against each other, and when electricity flows through wires.

2.2.a: Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity.

Circuit Builder
Conduction and Convection
Heat Absorption

2.2.b: Increasing the temperature of any substance requires the addition of heat energy.

Conduction and Convection
Heat Absorption

3: Each type of organism has structures that enable it to function in unique and specific ways to obtain food, reproduce and survive. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

3.3: Many observable characteristics of an organism are inherited from the parents of the organisms (e.g., color of flowers, number of limbs on an animal).

Inheritance

3.4: Energy from the Sun is passed to organisms through food chains.

Prairie Ecosystem

4: The Earth and its Moon have specific properties. The student will engage in investigations that integrate the process standards and lead to the discovery of the following objectives:

4.4: The observable shape of the moon changes from day to day in a cycle that lasts about a month.

Phases of the Moon