Perspectives in Science and Social Studies Inquiry Student Overview

Inquiry Overview

• During this inquiry you will research a science or social studies inquiry question in order to write an article. You will work in a group to create a podcast show in which you interview your classmates about their inquiry. In addition, you will use your research to write an opinion piece.

Choosing a Topic

The following four slides contain suggested inquiry questions to help you choose your topic and develop detailed questions.

What questions will you ask yourself to help you select a science or social studies driving question?

ScienceDriving Questions

Informative Writing

• How have humans impacted a specific biome?

• How has the impact of natural disasters changed over time due to technology?

Science Driving QuestionsOpinion Writing

• Technology allows people to change the environment to satisfy their wants and needs. – Should people use technology to build human-

made features in locations where Earth's surface may face fast or slow changes?

– What technologies should people use to secure human-made features in locations that may be impacted by changes to Earth’s surface?

Social Studies Driving Questions

Informative Writing

How was taxation a major factor leading to the decision to declare for independence?

How did the slave trade affect the economic growth of the colonies?

Social StudiesDriving QuestionsOpinion Writing

• When thinking about the growth and development of the three colonial regions…– Which region or colony most exhibited democratic

ideas and practices in its government?– Which region was most influenced by

specialization?– Which region was most influenced by

natural/physical characteristics?

Informative Writing PieceIntroductory Paragraph

The informative piece includes:• Introductory paragraph that – states a thesis or main idea – Provides statements to familiarize the reader with the

topic– Uses a hook to interest the reader

Informative Writing PieceBody Paragraph

The informative piece includes:• Body paragraphs that– supports the thesis or main idea using details,

definitions, and examples– Use linking (transition) words to help the reader – Present a point of view on the topic– Share the answer to the inquiry question– Use social studies & science vocabulary

Informative Writing PieceConclusion Paragraph

• Conclusion paragraph that– Provides closure – Provides information that summarizes the main ideas

and key details

Opinion Writing Piece

The opinion piece includes:• Introductory paragraph that states your opinion• Body paragraphs that use reasons and evidence to

communicate your opinion.• Conclusion paragraph that summarizes your opinion.

Researching Science and

Social Studies Content

Once you select your science or social studies driving question, you must narrow your topic in order to determine your information need.

When developing your detailed questions think about what you need to know about the content’s concepts to be able to answer the driving inquiry question.

Presenting Your Research

You will publish your informative writing as a feature article using a technology tool. The feature article should include text features that are common to feature articles such as: headings, photographs, and graphics.

Presenting Your Research

You will also present your research by creating a group podcast show. Your group will design the format of the show and develop interview questions to ask each other about your inquiry topics.

You will listen to the other groups podcasts in order to participate in collaborative conversations about what you have learned.

Universal Design Criteria

When designing both your feature article and your podcast shows you need to consider:• Use of visuals to reduce barriers to

understanding content• Use of audio to reduce barriers to

understanding content• Use of text to reduce barriers to

understanding content

Resources to Explore

The MCPS Grade 4 MP4 Perspectives in Science and Social Studies LiveBinder contains websites to use when researching. In addition it contains information about feature articles and creating podcasts.

Resources to Explore

The MCPS Grade 4 MP4 Perspectives in Science and Social Studies LiveBinder contains websites to use when researching. In addition it contains information about feature articles and creating podcasts.

Understanding Vocabulary

Knowing the meaning of domain specific vocabulary is key to developing researchable questions.

The following slides provide vocabulary relevant to either the science or social studies driving questions.

Definitions of Science Key Terms

Physical Sciences: Matter

• matter- Matter is anything that has volume and mass.• solid- Solid is the state in which a substance has a definite

volume and shape and resists forces which try to change these properties.

• material- A material is something consisting of physical matter.• substance- Substance is matter of a particular kind, or

chemical makeup.• combine- Combine is to join together, or make substances join

together, to form a new material or mixture of materials.• separate- Separate means to leave a larger group and become

independent. A mixture can be separated into component parts, or be split into component parts.

• mixture- A mixture is a combination of substances that can be physically separated from one another.

Definitions of Science Key Terms

Earth Sciences: Geology

• Earth materials- Earth material is a general term that includes

rocks, minerals, sand, and soil.• Earth’s surface, crust- The Earth’s surface or crust is the thin

rocky outer layer of the Earth.• rock- Rocks are any consolidated material consisting of one or

more minerals and, sometimes, organic material (e.g. granite, limestone).

• mineral- A mineral is a naturally occurring, nonliving solid with a characteristic crystal, structure and definite chemical makeup.

• soil- Soil is the outer layer of Earth's crust in which plants can grow; made of bits of dead plant and animal material as well as bits of rocks and minerals.

Definitions of Science Key Terms

Physical Sciences: Properties of Matter

• observable properties- An observable property is any property of matter that can be observed by your senses.

• physical properties- Physical properties include information and direct evidence that can be collected by using senses and/or scientific instruments.

• chemical reaction- A chemical reaction is a change that results in the formation of new substances or materials.

• strength- Strength is the ability to withstand force, pressure, or stress.• flexibility- Flexibility is the property to bend or be bent repeatedly without

damage or injury.• hardness- Hardness is the property of a mineral's resistance to being

scratched.• luster- Luster is the ability to reflect light.• streak- Streak is the color of the powder that a mineral leaves when it is

rubbed on a hard, rough surface.

Definitions of Science Key Terms

Earth Sciences: Processes for Changing Earth’s Surface

process- A process is a eries of natural occurrences that produce change or developmenttemperature- Temperature is the measure of the average energy of motion of the particles of a substance.pressure- Pressure is the applying of a firm regular weight or force against somebody or something.gravity- Gravity is the force of gravitational attraction on or near the surface of a celestial body. Gravity on Earth pulls object towards Earth’s center.weathering- Weathering is a chemical or physical process in which rocks exposed to the weather are worn down by water, wind, or ice.erosion- Erosion is the carrying away of weathered soil, rock, and other materials on the Earth's surface by gravity, water, and wind.deposition- Deposition is the process by which sediments are placed in a new location.

Definitions of Science Key Terms

Earth Sciences: Evidence of Earth’s Changing Surface

• paleontology, paleontologist- Paleontology is the study of life in prehistoric times by using fossil evidence. A paleontologist is a scientist who uses fossils as evidence to explain and describe organisms and environments from long ago.

• fossil- A fossil is the remains or imprint of a prehistoric plant or animal.• organism- An organism is a living thing.• feature- A feature is a part of an organism that you can observe (behavioral or

physical).• environment- The environment is the physical surroundings of an organism which

includes the living and nonliving components.• rapid change, slow change- Rapid and slow are dependent on the comparisons used.

Rapid changes (i.e., an observable change to Earth’s surface that takes place within days, weeks, or months) can be observed within a human lifetime. Slow changes (i.e., an observable change to Earth’s surface that takes place over many decades, centuries, millennia, or even millions of years) occur over much longer periods of time. evidence data or information that either supports a statement or shows that it is not true

• technology- Technology is the innovation, change, or modification of the natural environment to satisfy perceived human needs and wants.

Definitions of Social Studies Key Terms

(in alphabetical order)

• colony - A colony is an area of land controlled by another, usually distant, country

• democratic ideas and practices - Democratic ideas and practices are actions and ideas that support a form of government in which power is held by the people either directly or through elected representatives

• economic growth - Economic growth occurs when more goods and services are produced at the present time than were produced in the past

Definitions of Social Studies Key Terms

(in alphabetical order)

• geographic characteristics - Geographic characteristics are traits that distinguish one place from another. These are divided into two groups: physical characteristics and human characteristics.

• geography - Geography is the study of characteristics of the Earth, whether natural/physical, or human-made

Definitions of Social Studies Key Terms

(in alphabetical order)

• human characteristics - Human characteristics describe the people of a place past or present, their human-made features (buildings, etc), languages, religions, economic activities, and political systems.

• natural/physical characteristics - Natural/physical characteristics describe the natural environment of a place. They include physical features (natural landforms and bodies of water), weather and climate, soil, vegetation, and animal life.

Definitions of Social Studies Key Terms

(in alphabetical order)

• region - A region is an area that has one or more geographic characteristics in common, such as Latin America, an oil-producing region, or the South.

• slave trade - The slave trade refers to the business of buying and selling people as laborers, especially the transportation of Africans to the Americas in the 16th to 19th centuries.

• specialization - Specialization involves the production of a narrow range of goods and services that cannot meet all the economic wants of a community. Most people work in jobs where they produce one or a few special goods or services and purchase many goods and services from other specialists.

Definitions of Social Studies Key Terms

(in alphabetical order)

• technology - Technology includes the skills, methods, tools, machines, and other things used to perform activities. Technology changes over time and affects the way people live, work, and play.

• trading - Trading is the exchanging of resources, goods and services through barter or the use of money.

Definitions of Social Studies Key Terms

(in alphabetical order)

• triangular trade - Triangular trade is a term used to describe the pattern of trade between three ports or regions. The best known triangular trading system is the transatlantic slave trade that operated from the late 16th to early 19th centuries carrying slaves, cash crops, and manufactured goods between West Africa, colonies in the Carribean and America, and the European colonial powers, such as Great Britain.