Big Idea 2 : The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge



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A: Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence, and is appropriate for understanding the natural world, but it provides only a limited understanding of the supernatural, aesthetic, or other ways of knowing, such as art, philosophy, or religion.

B: Scientific knowledge is durable and robust, but open to change.

C: Because science is based on empirical evidence it strives for objectivity, but as it is a human endeavor the processes, methods, and knowledge of science include subjectivity, as well as creativity and discovery.

General Information

Number: SC.8.N.2
Title: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 8
Body of Knowledge: Nature of Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks
Code Description
SC.8.N.2.1: Distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific ideas.
SC.8.N.2.2: Discuss what characterizes science and its methods.


Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.8.N.2.In.1: Identify that scientific knowledge must be supported by evidence.

Supported

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.8.N.2.Su.1: Recognize examples of evidence that supports scientific knowledge.

Participatory

Access Point Number Access Point Title
SC.8.N.2.Pa.1: Recognize an example of observable evidence related to science.


Related Resources

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

Original Student Tutorials

Name Description
Think Like a Scientist:

Learn about the tools of science as we look at the mystery of bird migrations in this interactive tutorial. 

Is It Science or Pseudoscience?:

Learn the differences between science and pseudoscience in this interactive tutorial.

Lesson Plans

Name Description
Can You Identify Pseudoscience?:

For an idea to be classified as scientific, it must have been subjected to the rigors of scientific inquiry (scientific method).

Creativity in Science: Scientists and engineers, who know a lot about technology, worked together to create satellites so many different things could be studied. In this lesson, students will learn about the launch of the Swift satellite and the data that the satellite collects and sends to Earth. The focus of the lesson is on the people involved in the project and their careers and cooperative activities. Students also explore the different job roles in the development of satellites and web pages used to communicate scientific discoveries from those satellites, with a particular focus on gamma ray bursts.
Science vs. Pseudoscience: The students will differentiate between scientific and pseudoscientific ideas.
Content statements:
  • Scientific claims must follow basic fundamentals of science and scientific laws.
  • Scientific ideas are supported by a large amount of data, usually from experiments.
  • Scientific claims can be tested and the results can be replicated.

Presentation/Slideshow

Name Description
What is Science?:

Resource provides a succinct overview of the nature of science; what science is and is not. Information includes the aims of scientific pursuits, principles, process and thinking.

Professional Development

Name Description
Generating and Testing Hypotheses:

This brief article summarizes the research-based rationale for using inquiry-based activities in their classrooms. It also provides specific suggestions to help teachers plan lessons that encourage students to generate predictions based on hypotheses, design investigations to test the validity of their ideas, and utilize questioning techniques to promote critical thinking.

Project

Name Description
A Survey About Science: Through a student administered survey, friends and family members share their perception of science and the scientific process. This information is then shared with classmates to create a picture of the community's knowledge about, and comfort level with, science. By the end of this lesson, students will have a better understanding of what science is and isn't after exploring and discussing the implications of scientific literacy.

Teaching Idea

Name Description
CONPTT - SCIENCE vs NON-SCIENCE: Explores six criteria of science (CONPTT), with definitions and self-check questions. Compares "Emerging Science", "Non-Science", and "Pseudoscience", with definitions and examples. Activity engages students in analyzing a collection of paragraphs to decide which category each fits into.

Text Resource

Name Description
What Separates Science From Non-Science?:

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Written by two scientists, the article explains how "hard sciences" and "soft sciences" are different. The authors list the five concepts that characterize scientifically rigorous studies and determine that, while not inferior, social sciences like economics are not truly "scientific."

Unit/Lesson Sequence

Name Description
CIS Unit - Science and Pseudoscience:

This is a Comprehension Instructional Unit on the characteristics of science and pseudoscience. There are 2 files: the CIS unit with questions and culminating activity and the article itself. This correlates with the 8th grade Holt Fusion textbook in Unit 1, Lesson 1.

Video/Audio/Animation

Name Description
Gamma-ray Burst Theories:

This video clip explores some of the possible theories that might help explain what causes gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Scientists have only been studying GRBs since 1967, even though they originated billions of years ago. Once they were found, it took scientists another four years to determine what these flashes of nuclear energy were.



Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Title Description
Think Like a Scientist:

Learn about the tools of science as we look at the mystery of bird migrations in this interactive tutorial. 

Is It Science or Pseudoscience?:

Learn the differences between science and pseudoscience in this interactive tutorial.

Presentation/Slideshow

Title Description
What is Science?:

Resource provides a succinct overview of the nature of science; what science is and is not. Information includes the aims of scientific pursuits, principles, process and thinking.