Grade Seven

Scientific Inquiry

Students develop scientific habits of mind as they use the processes of scientific inquiry to ask valid questions and to gather and analyze information. They understand how to develop hypotheses and make predictions. They are able to reflect on scientific practices as they develop plans of action to create and evaluate a variety of conclusions. Students are also able to demonstrate the ability to communicate their findings to others.

Benchmark A: [6-8] Doing Scientific Inquiry
Explain that there are differing sets of procedures for guiding scientific investigations and procedures are determined by the nature of the investigation, safety considerations and appropriate tools.

Benchmark B: [6-8] Doing Scientific Inquiry
Analyze and interpret data from scientific investigations using appropriate mathematical skills in order to draw valid conclusions.

Indicators
Doing Scientific Inquiry1. Explain that variables and controls can affect the results of an investigation and that ideally one variable should be tested at a time; however it is not always possible to control all variables.

2. Identify simple independent and dependent variables.

3. Formulate and identify questions to guide scientific investigations that connect to science concepts and can be answered through scientific investigations.

4. Choose the appropriate tools and instruments and use relevant safety procedures to complete scientific investigations.

5. Analyze alternative scientific explanations and predictions and recognize that there may be more than one good way to interpret a given set of data.

6. Identify faulty reasoning and statements that go beyond the evidence or misinterpret the evidence.

7. Use graphs, tables and charts to study physical phenomena and infer mathematical relationships between variables (e.g., speed and density).