Alaska Science
Key Element C4

A student who meets the content standard should understand that some personal and societal beliefs accept non-scientific methods for validating knowledge.

Performance Standard Level 1, Ages 5–7

Students observe a phenonmenon and record a personal (non-scientific) belief about that phenomenon.

Sample Assessment Ideas

• Students observe the sky when the sun, moon and stars are not visible and state their opinion regarding what they see.

• Students observe animal behavior and state their belief about reasons behind the behavior.

Standards Cross-References
( Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Standards)

National Science Education Standards

People have always had questions about their world. Science is one way of answering questions and explaining the natural world. (Page 138)

Although men and women using scientific inquiry have learned much about the objects, events, and phenomena in nature, much more remains to be understood. Science will never be finished. (Page 141)

Benchmarks

Ask “How do you know?” in appropriate situations and attempt reasonable answers when others ask them the same question. (Page 298)