Access Point #: SC.5.N.1.Pa.2

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Recognize that people use observation and actions to get answers to questions about the natural world.
General Information
Number: SC.5.N.1.Pa.2
Category: Participatory
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Big Idea: The Practice of Science : 

A: Scientific inquiry is a multifaceted activity; The processes of science include the formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations into those questions, the collection of appropriate data, the evaluation of the meaning of those data, and the communication of this evaluation.

B: The processes of science frequently do not correspond to the traditional portrayal of "the scientific method."

C: Scientific argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry and plays an important role in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge.

D: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference; it is important to recognize that these are very different things. Not only does science require creativity in its methods and processes, but also in its questions and explanations.

Related Benchmarks

This access point is an alternate version of the following benchmark(s).

Related Courses

This access point is part of these courses.
5020060: Science - Grade Five
5010046: Language Arts - Grade Five
7720060: Access Science Grade 5
7710016: Access Language Arts - Grade 5
5020120: STEM Lab Grade 5

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plans

Investigating Variables:

In this inquiry lesson, students will design an experiment to answer the question "How do different surfaces affect the bounce of a ping pong ball?" Students will collect and analyze data as well as identify controls and variables in a scientific experiment.

Type: Lesson Plan

Introduction To The Nature Journal:

In the lessons here, students exercise the observation skills that are essential to writing, visual art, and science. First, they try to use evocative language in describing pictures of birds from the Smithsonian's National Zoo. They go on to record observations and to make hypotheses as they follow the behavior of animals on the National Zoo's live webcams. They can watch the giant pandas, the tigers, the cheetahs, the gorillas, or any of a dozen other species.

Type: Lesson Plan

Unit/Lesson Sequences

Mysterious M&Ms | Molecules in Motion | Inquiry in Action:

In this unit, students will investigate M&Ms in water by posing questions, designing and conducting experiments to answer these questions, and developing explanations based on their observations. Students will investigate the effects of variables, such as temperature, on the rate at which the colored coating of M&Ms dissolves.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Galaxies and Solar Systems:

The students will learn all about outer space in this lesson. They will make a model of a galaxy and learn the vocabulary that relates to this topic. The students will also learn how to classify a planet and describe its features. They will be taught about the Earth's position in the solar system as well as that of the other planets in our solar system. The students will also learn how to classify between the different objects that are in our solar system.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

Student Resources

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Parent Resources

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