Process Standards Grade 2
PROCESS STANDARD 1: OBSERVE AND MEASURE: Observing is the first action taken by the learner to acquire new information about an object, organism, or event. Opportunities for observation are developed through the use of a variety of scientific tools. Measurement allows observations to be quantified.
1. Observe and measure objects, organisms, and/or events using developmentally appropriate nonstandard units of measurement (e.g., hand, paper clip, book) and Systems International (SI) units (i.e., meters, centimeters) 2. Compare and contrast similar and/or different characteristics in a given set of simple objects, familiar organisms and/or observable events.
PROCESS STANDARD 2: CLASSIFY: Classifying establishes order. Objects, organisms, and events are classified based on similarities, differences, and interrelationships.
1. Classify a set of simple objects, familiar organisms, and/or observable events by observable properties.
2. Arrange simple objects, familiar organisms, and/or observable events in a serial order (e.g., least -greatest, tall- shortest).
PROCESS STANDARD 3: EXPERIMENT AND INQUIRY: Experimenting is a method of discovering information. It requires making observations and measurements to test ideas. Inquiry can be defined as the skills necessary to carry out the process of scientific or systemic thinking. In order for inquiry to occur, students must have the opportunity to ask a question, formulate a procedure, and observe phenomena.
1. Ask a question about objects, organisms, or events in the environment.
2. Plan and conduct a simple investigation.
3. Employ simple equipment and tools such as magnifiers, thermometers, and rulers to gather data.
4. Recognize potential hazards and practice safety procedures in all science activities.
PROCESS STANDARD 4: INTERPRET AND COMMUNICATE: Interpreting is the process of recognizing patterns in collected data by making inferences, predictions, or conclusions. Communicating is the process of describing, recording, and reporting experimental procedures and results to others. Communication may be oral, written, or mathematical and includes organizing ideas, using appropriate vocabulary, graphs, and other visual representations.
1. Interpret pictures, simple bar graphs, and/or tables.
2. Recognize and describe patterns, then make predictions based on patterns.
3. Communicate the results of a simple investigation using drawings, tables, graphs, and/or written and oral language.
STANDARD 2: LIFE CYCLES AND ORGANISMS: Life cycles represent the stages an organism passes through from its own birth to the birth of the next generation.
1. Plants and animals have life cycles that include developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different organisms.
2. Generally, offspring resemble their parents.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE STANDARD 1: PROPERTIES AND INTERACTIONS OF OBJECTS AND MATERIALS: Characteristics of objects can be described using physical properties such as size, shape, color, texture, or magnetism. Interactions change the position and motion of objects.
1. Objects can be described in terms of the materials of which they are made. Physical properties of materials can be changed by tearing, sifting, sanding, or pounding.
2. Motion and interaction of objects can be observed in toys and playground activities.
3. Magnets attract and repel each other and certain other materials. Magnetic force passes through materials such as paper, glass, and water.
EARTH/SPACE SCIENCE STANDARD 3: PROPERTIES AND CHANGES OF EARTH AND SKY: Earth materials consist of rocks, soils, water, and air. The sun appears to move across sky in the same way every day.
1. Earth materials can be used as resources (e.g., building materials and for growing plants).
2. The size and shape of shadows change at different times of the day.