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.7.N.2
Title: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
Type: Big Idea
Subject: Science
Grade: 7
Body of Knowledge: Nature of Science

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Independent

SC.7.N.2.In.1
Identify an example of a change in scientific knowledge based on new evidence or new interpretations.

Supported

SC.7.N.2.Su.1
Recognize an example of a change in scientific knowledge based on new evidence.

Participatory

SC.7.N.2.Pa.1
Recognize information related to science.

Related Resources

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

Lesson Plans

Fish with a See-Through Head:

Students read an interesting article about a fish with a see-through head to help them think about traits that are beneficial in a certain environment (adaptation). They also consider how improved observations lead to more sophisticated science ideas.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fossil DNA:

This is a lesson designed to help students explain that scientific knowledge is durable because it is open to change as new evidence or interpretations are encountered and site examples from the article that support that the history of science has changed due to new evidence or new interpretations being encountered through reading nonfiction text. This lesson follows the Comprehension Instructional Sequence (CIS) Model through a 5E lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Survival Journal Part Two: Outdoor Gardening:

In this lesson, students will design two outdoor gardens, 1) a raised garden bed and 2) a ground level garden (traditional). Students will, with help of the teacher, till the ground with removal of ground cover, build border for garden, add soil, attach poles with string to create a life size graph all so they can grow tomatoes and plot the data easily in their survival journals.This is Part 2 of a 4-Part Project on Survival.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fun with Taxonomy and Dichotomous Keys:

Students will be introduced to the taxonomy of living things created by Linnaeus. They will learn how to use binomial nomenclature to create and solve dichotomous keys.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorial

Scientific Knowledge Changes:

Learn how scientific knowledge can change when new evidence is discovered or new ideas are developed. In this interactive tutorial, you'll look at some famous example from the history of science, including the cell theory and the theory of plate tectonics.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Presentation/Slideshow

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.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

Student Resources

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

Original Student Tutorial

Scientific Knowledge Changes:

Learn how scientific knowledge can change when new evidence is discovered or new ideas are developed. In this interactive tutorial, you'll look at some famous example from the history of science, including the cell theory and the theory of plate tectonics.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Presentation/Slideshow

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.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

Parent Resources

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