Asking questions and defining problems in K–2 builds on prior experiences and progresses to simple descriptive questions that can be tested.  

• Ask questions based on observations to find more information about the natural and/or designed world(s).  

• Ask and/or identify questions that can be answered by an investigation.   

• Define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool. 

Asking questions and defining problems in 3–5 builds on K–2 experiences and progresses to specifying qualitative relationships.  

• Ask questions about what would happen if a variable is changed.  Identify scientific (testable) and non-scientific (nontestable) questions.  

• Ask questions that can be investigated and predict reasonable outcomes based on patterns such as cause and effect relationships.  

• Use prior knowledge to describe problems that can be solved.  

• Define a simple design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process, or system and includes several criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.  

Asking questions and defining problems in 6–8 builds on K–5 experiences and progresses to specifying relationships between variables, and clarifying arguments and models.

Ask questions 

• that arise from careful observation of phenomena, models, or unexpected results, to clarify and/or seek additional information. 

• to identify and/or clarify evidence and/or the premise(s) of an argument. 

• to determine relationships between independent and dependent variables and relationships in models. 

• to clarify and/or refine a model, an explanation, or an engineering problem.

• that require sufficient and appropriate empirical evidence to answer. 

• that can be investigated within the scope of the classroom, outdoor environment, and museums and other public facilities with available resources and, when appropriate, frame a hypothesis based on observations and scientific principles.

• that challenge the premise(s) of an argument or the interpretation of a data set.  

• Define a design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process or system and includes multiple criteria and constraints, including scientific knowledge that may limit possible solutions.