Supporting Teachers
We help students overcome common misconceptions about climate change, evolution, and the nature of science.
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Science Can Make You Strong
This lesson’s primary goal is to help meet one of the most essential challenges in high school science: How do you help students distinguish between sound science and unintentional misinformation or even blatant pseudoscience? This lesson applies information and insights gained from the first four nature of science COVID-19 storylines to investigate an important current topic — the effectiveness of masks in preventing the spread of diseases. As new discoveries emerge, this lesson will continue to be updated for relevance.
Age Level
Grades 9-12
Duration
4-6 50 minute classes
NGSS Standards
Science and Engineering Practices
- Asking questions and defining problems
- Engaging in argument from evidence
NGSS Appendix H: Understanding the Scientific Enterprise: The Nature of Science in the Next Generation Science Standards
- Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence
- Science is a way of knowing
- Science addresses questions about the natural and material world
Other Relevant NGSS References
- NGSS Appendix F: Science and Engineering Practices in the NGSS
- NGSS Appendix G: Crosscutting Concepts
- NGSS Appendix J: Science, Technology, Society and the Environment
Note: Due to the nature of the five lesson sets, these four appendices are a vital component of why these activities are important in the science classroom. While a wide variety of science topics are selected to demonstrate the nature of science, all five lesson sets incorporate the ideals of these four appendices and provide numerous opportunities for the application of scientific knowledge across a variety of disciplines.
