Lesson Plan

Describe the iterative steps of scientific inquiry and explain why it is a cycle rather than a linear sequence

Distinguish between a hypothesis, a theory, and a scientific law

Explain what makes an experiment controlled and why controls are essential

Identify the role of peer review and reproducibility in validating scientific knowledge

Recognize the difference between scientific and non-scientific claims

1.2

"Scientists often say, 'Science is the process of making and testing models of the world.' We begin by observing the world to identify patterns in natural events. We then work to produce testable hypotheses or models to explain these patterns. We test these models by gathering further data, and use our data to revise our models, creating an iterative process." "In science, a law is a general term for a mathematical description of some aspect of nature. It is consistent with all experiments that have been performed to date, and has a range of applicability. A theory is a testable explanation for patterns in nature."