The practices of learning have been specifically identified for a science class by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). These are what I use to do science because they are what the scientific and engineering communities have communicated to the academic community on what they do at their jobs. Doing science is much more complex and engaging than just having fun doing experiments. Those things do exist in science but they also go along with multitude of other practices that allow a student to do what scientist and engineers do on a daily basis. My goal is to have students do the science to learn the science. The science was done at some point in human history and the students will be doing their best to replicate that work in their own way to learn it for themselves.
Science and Engineering Practices
Asking Questions and Defining Problems
Students will do science by asking questions throughout the entire learning process.
Students will do engineering by coming up with a problem and identifying solution within certain guidelines.
Developing and Using Models
Students will do science by making models of scientific ideas.
Students will do science by using models to better understand scientific ideas.
Planning and Carrying out Investigations
Students will do science by creating their own investigation.
Students will do science by following an investigation.
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Students will do science by looking at data to come up with meaning.
Students will do science by taking the meaning of the data and applying it.
Using Mathematical and Computational Thinking
Students will do science by doing math.
Students will do science by using computers and tools to look at numbers.
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Students will do science by creating their own CERs.
Students will do engineering by creating their own solutions to a problem with a set of criteria and constraints.
Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Students will do science by coming up an argument and being able to support it with evidence.
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Students will do science by coming up with information
Students will do science by determining the value in information
Students will do science by sharing information in multiple formats