Middle Level Science (Grades 5–8) Subtest 1
Subarea I.1. Concepts and Applications in Middle Level General Science
0001
Understand the principles and processes of scientific inquiry and the nature and history of science.
- demonstrating knowledge of the principles of scientific inquiry (e.g., asking questions, designing and conducting experiments, communicating and justifying conclusions based on logic and empirical evidence)
- demonstrating knowledge of appropriate methods, technology, and tools for designing and carrying out a scientific investigation
- applying methods and criteria for collecting, organizing, and communicating scientific information
- recognizing procedures and sources of information (e.g., state and national standards) for the safe and proper use of equipment and materials used in scientific investigations
- applying knowledge of ethical principles to the acquisition, care, handling, and disposal of live organisms
- demonstrating understanding of the history of science and the evolution of scientific knowledge, including the contributions of various cultures
- demonstrating knowledge of how assumptions, values, and the limitations of available data or theories can influence scientific progress
0002
Understand connections between science, technology, and society, and connections between science and other school subjects.
- applying the systems model (e.g., inputs, outputs, feedback) to a given technological, biological, physical, or Earth and space system
- demonstrating knowledge of unifying themes, principles, and relationships that connect the different branches of the sciences
- demonstrating knowledge of how the relationships between science and technology lead to new discoveries and advances
- describing similarities and differences between the goals and processes of scientific inquiry and between technological and engineering design
- demonstrating knowledge of the use of computer models, diagrams, flowcharts, tables, graphs, and mathematical relationships to interpret, model, and solve problems
- analyzing social, economic, and ethical issues related to scientific and technological developments
- demonstrating knowledge of how the systematic approaches of science can inform courses of action for addressing problems related to personal, local, national, or global challenges
- demonstrating knowledge of how to assess a certain course of action in terms of alternatives, costs, risks, and benefits
- recognizing opportunities for further education and careers in the sciences and the role of the sciences in everyday life
0003
Understand the content and methods for developing students' content-area reading skills to support their reading and learning in the sciences.
- demonstrating knowledge of key components and processes involved in reading (e.g., vocabulary knowledge, including orthographic and morphological knowledge; background knowledge; knowledge of academic discourse, including the syntactic and organizational structures used in print and digital academic texts; print processing abilities, including decoding skills; use of cognitive and metacognitive skills and strategies)
- demonstrating the ability to plan instruction and select strategies that support all students' content-area reading (e.g., differentiating instruction to meet the needs of students with varying reading proficiency levels and linguistic backgrounds, identifying and addressing gaps in students' background knowledge, scaffolding reading tasks for students who experience comprehension difficulties)
- demonstrating knowledge of explicit strategies for facilitating students' comprehension before, during, and after reading content-area texts and for promoting their use of comprehension strategies
- demonstrating knowledge of explicit strategies for promoting students' academic language and vocabulary development, including their knowledge of domain-specific vocabulary words
- demonstrating knowledge of explicit strategies for developing students' critical literacy skills (e.g., encouraging students to question texts, developing students' ability to analyze texts from multiple viewpoints or perspectives)
- demonstrating the ability to plan instruction and select strategies that support students' reading and understanding of sources of information in the sciences (e.g., helping students follow laboratory instructions and interpret diagrams and graphs)
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