CKSci Unit 8: Making Sense of Science
Focus:
In this unit, students explore Science Literacy topics associated with the other content units of the CKSci Grade 4 curriculum. Science Literacy can be taught as a stand-alone unit or integrated throughout the year using suggestions from the Pacing Guide found in the Teacher Guide.
Grade 4 Topics
In Grades 4–5, science literacy expands students understanding of the uses of background knowledge and new information for decision-making and problem-solving. Topics include a wide range of literacy areas including:
- What are methods, tools, and techniques?
- What is a testable question?
- What do concrete and abstract mean?
- How is numerical data organized?
- How does a scientist use charts and graphs?
- Discerning weak and strong evidence.
- What makes a good science report?
- What are simple and complex systems?
- Which changes are fast, and which are slow?
- How are science and technology related?
What is Science Literacy?
Core Knowledge Foundation suggests that science literacy initially involves awareness of how scientists observe, ask questions, obtain and analyze data, experiment, form conclusions, and communicate. But a science-literate citizen also understands the role of science in our society, acknowledging the importance of science in helping private and public groups to make decisions based not on emotion or hearsay but on the foundation of careful research and established scientific facts. Additionally, a wider view of science literacy is that science interfaces with all aspects of human learning, such as art, history, biography, mathematics, music, philosophy, and literature.
Digital Engagements
All K-5 units of CKSci Science Literacy contain web-based Digital Engagements. These are accessed via the Core Knowledge website. Teacher driven, these engagements are game-like activities that, while quite entertaining, serve as a checkpoint of knowledge learned earlier in a lesson.
Number of Lessons: 20
Instruction Time:
- Each Lesson is designed to be completed in one 30-45-minute class period.
- Some single-day activities and performance tasks might require setting aside a longer block of time.
- This Unit should be completed in about 20 classroom days.
- A Pacing Guide Template is provided within the Teacher Guide so teachers can help pair lessons/chapters with other Grade K units.
- A complete list of Materials needed to complete the unit is provided in Online Resources.
Additional Search Terms:
abstract • accurate • affect • claim • criteria • cause • complex • constraint • control • variable • criteria • data • effect • feedback loop • estimate • law • method • pattern • precise • reasoning • skeptical • system • testable question • theory • variable
