Science & Character Skills

Why do you go to school? What skills do you need when you leave?  

Some of the skills you need in science are the same skills you will need in other subject areas and other facets of your life. Below are a list of character skills that we as a science team think are important for you to master to become a better person. We will use these to help make a judgement about your character grade. 

Character skills: 

I am able to: 

• Work safely, and use equipment and apparatus carefully? 

• Work efficiently as an individual without reminders to stay on target?

• Include anyone in class or laboratory groups? 

• Be respectful of the different skills that individuals can bring to the group? 

• Motivate other members of my team? 

• Demonstrate curiosity and a willingness to learn and try new things? 

• Treat all experimental test subjects, even invertebrates, with care and respect? 

• Be academically honest by ensuring that I do not cheat on tests and citing sources of information and images? 

• Be conscientious about cleaning up the laboratory and leaving it clean? 

• Advocate for myself. Know where to find information or who to ask for help? 

• Follow a project through to completion? 

• Be open minded towards new ways of thinking or new ideas? 

• Complete all work and assignments on time? 

Critical Thinking Skills  

I am able to: 

• Make connections between topics I study in science and other subjects? 

• Understand different viewpoints? 

• Express personal opinions that are supported by evidence or examples? 

• Demonstrate imagination and creative thinking, originality of thought and of expression? 

• Identify bias and subjectivity in science? 

Scientific inquiry skills: 

I am able to: 

• Analyze and interpret data from recent scientific research? 

• Evaluate the reliability of sources of scientific data? 

• State a focused problem or research question, which can be tested? 

• Write a hypothesis based on scientific research? 

• Define the term, ‘fair test? 

• Select appropriate variables for my experiment (Independent Variable, Control Variable, Dependent Variable)? 

• Select appropriate apparatus and materials for my investigation? 

• Write a logical, step-by-step experimental method, which can be followed? 

• Evaluate the reliability and validity of my experimental method? 

• Suggest realistic, achievable improvements to my method? 

• Collect and organize data correctly into a data table? 

• Process data to highlight interesting points or trends? 

• Use my data to draw a graph? 

• Decide which type of graph will best represent my data based on whether or not I have discrete or continuous variables? 

• Draw a line of best fit to show relationships between my Independent and Dependent Variables? 

• Analyze and interpret my data to look for patterns and trends? 

• Write a conclusion in which I describe trends and relationships in my data? 

• Write a scientific conclusion, which is consistent with my findings? 

• Comment on the reliability of my conclusion by looking at my data? 

• Differentiate between primary and secondary sources in scientific research? 

• Take concise notes and summarize what is presented – not copy word for word? 

• Clearly communicate my ideas, when giving a presentation or when writing? 

Science Skills Vocabulary (All units): hypothesis, fair test, independent variable, dependent variable, control variables, reliability, validity, accuracy