I am convinced that they are in some way qualitatively different from humanities and social sciences. I am interested in the pedagogy of math and sciences. Around particular topics there are specific works which I would have student's read. But, with the possible exception of Kuehn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, there are not general pieces of reading which I feel student's need to have read in order for us to work. In the sciences I feel it is critically important for students to read the primary literature, indeed in history as well.
Students have to build a framework.
Frameworks are incredibly important to me. You may change that framework. You may completely dismantle it. But if you don't have anything to start with your just building sand castles that will get washed away. It really doesn't matter whether I am teaching sciences or history, freshmen or advanced students, I want students to work on clear thinking and writing.