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Inquiry Science

 

Scientific Inquiry standards are core standards in both the National Science Standards, as well as in most state curriculum science standards for K12 schools. The primary concept taught within the HCPS III scientific inquiry standards is the scientific method and the components there in:

 

I. Have or obtain background information
II. State a problem and/or ask a question
III. Develop a testable hypothesis
IV. Develop methods to test it (establish variables) and test it.
V. Analyze results and make conclusions

 

In authentic scientific inquiry, the process is not a finite number of steps, but rather, it is cyclical. The process continues to go around because, after making conclusions, new questions naturally arise. Perhaps the scientist develops a question about the possibility of changing the testing methods for the same hypothesis, or perhaps the scientist discovers something unexpected and wants to ask a new question entirely. Various models of inquiry exist, but all have in common initiating the process with the students themselves asking authentic questions, and then allowing time and resources to support students in asking those questions.
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