The following explanations are meant to introduce the strands. To assist teachers, strategy books are available through the Department of Public Instruction's Publication Section. Nature of Science - The Nature of Science strand helps students understand the human dimensions of science, the nature of scientific thought, and the role of science in society. Science assumes that nature is the same everywhere, and that it is understandable and predictable. Students can develop an understanding of the regularity of systems, which in turn leads to understanding of basic laws of nature, scientific theories, and models that explain the world.
Students can read, investigate , and explore the theme that science is a human endeavor.
Teachers should emphasize the diversity found in the science community. Science as Inquiry - Fourth grade students can master some skills of a good inquirer. Most students can make measurements using tools, rulers, thermometers, containers, and balances. But a student's most useful tools are the ability to make predictions based on observations , to take careful measurement s, to record observations and measurements , and to communicate results in charts and simple graphs as well as prose. Good explanations are based on evidence from investigations .