Curriculum Standards Emphasized by EnvironMentors Scientific Inquiry: Raise Questions • Observe the world and identify questions of interest that can be investigated through experimentation using the Scientific Method. • Demonstrate the ability to do background research on the topic and be able to recognize credible sources. Investigate • Design an experiment with a testable hypothesis, and replicable procedure. • Identify controls, as well as independent and dependent variables. • Perform and record observations and measurements in an organized manor with consistency and precision. • Choose appropriate tools and equipment available to accurately and precisely collect data. • Properly use, store, and care for equipment, instruments, and materials. • Practice proper safety techniques throughout entire investigation. Analyze • • • •
Compare data collected from all experimental data sets. Identify possible sources of lurking variables, uncontrolled variables, and experimental or human error that may have lead to inconsistent results. Use appropriate technology such as graphing and statistical programs to analyze results. Develop a conclusion after assessing reliability of results.
Communicate • Full understanding and application of the entire Scientific Method is demonstrated through Final Research Paper. • Present and explain data comparisons from experimental data sets and trials using graphs and charts appropriate for each particular data set. • The ability to communicate effectively while referring to a clear visual display. Data Analysis and Statistics: • • •
The ability to calculate mean, median, and mode for a set of data and use terms effectively. Students design their experiments using random sampling techniques, and understand the meaning of bias and how to avoid it. Students present their data using appropriate graphical representation and are able to interpret them clearly.
Scientific Writing: Standard English Conventions • Proper use of grammar, diction, spelling, punctuation and capitalization is evident, as well as proper sentence and paragraph structure. • Paragraph organization gives writing a flow that is easy for the reader to follow. • Student writes to a professional audience demonstrated through appropriate diction, and possibly new vocabulary that is project specific. Research Analysis • A clear understanding that the purpose of Scientific Writing is to build off of what is already known referring to published research, and then communicating the results of his or her own new research and what conclusions it has led to. • Project topic and research question are developed using background research to gather information through field studies, experiments, interviews, electronic sources, journals and other texts. • Incorporate background research into the Introduction of the research topic by looking at similarities and differences as well as conclusions of past and current studies on similar or related topics. Style and Organization • While writing a scientific report, information is organized in the same format as a scientific journal with subsections including: title page, abstract, introduction, background research, experimental method, results and analysis, discussion and conclusion, bibliography, acknowledgements, and appendices. • Student understands the difference between the active and passive voice, and learns to avoid the passive voice whenever possible. • Student understands the difference between formal and informal English, and properly uses formal English in all Scientific Writing avoiding using the first person. • Writing is clear and concise, avoiding long sentences that “run-on”. • Integration of tables, graphs, and spread sheets into scientific journal style documents that can be referred to by a reader to enhance understanding of the entire document.
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