5 Strategies to Support Scientifically Literate Students
Every day there are news articles that seek to provide a scientific explanation for how or why a given natural phenomenon occurred. The topic may be climate change, nuclear energy, genetically modified food or something else that impacts the everyday lives of individuals.
Scientifically literate readers need to be able to evaluate the evidence and reasoning presented in the article or report. In addition, science students need to be able to explain the results of the investigations they conduct in science class.
All students should learn the critical skills that help them to develop and critique a scientific explanation. Two of the practices identified as essential for all students in Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are:
- Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering).
- Engaging in argument from evidence.
- Make the Framework Explicit
- Model and Critique Explanations
- Provide a Rationale for Creating Explanations
- Connect Scientific Explanations to Everyday Explanations
- Assess and Provide Feedback to Students
These are only the building blocks for scientific explanation. Read the full article to learn:
- How to teach students to construct scientific explanations
- The basis for modeling scientific literacy in classrooms
- How to develop critical skills that will lead students to become lifelong learners
Science Techbook for NGSS is a breakthrough K-12 digital science textbook that changes the way students and teachers experience real-world science phenomena, boosting achievement and igniting interest in the exploration of science concepts.
Learn More about Science Techbook for NGSS