Alaska Science
Key Element C6

A student who meets the content standard should understand that scientific discovery is often a combination of an accidental happening and observation by a knowledgeable person with an open mind.

Performance Standard Level 2, Ages 8–10

Students describe an historical scientific discovery that happened as a result of an accident.

Sample Assessment Ideas

• Students interview a local person who has discovered a better way to work or use a scientific principle in doing work.

• Students describe how gold or gas was discovered in Alaska.

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

National Science Education Standards

Recognize and analyze alternative explanations and predictions. Students should develop the ability to listen to and respect the explanations proposed by other students. They should remain open to and acknowledge different ideas and explanations, be able to accept the skepticism of others, and consider alternative explanations. (Page 148)

Science advances through legitimate skepticism. Asking questions and querying other scientists’ explanations is part of scientific inquiry. Scientists evaluate the explanations proposed by other scientists by examining evidence, comparing evidence, identifying faulty reasoning, pointing out statements that go beyond evidence, and suggesting alternative explanations for the same observations. (Page 148)

Benchmarks

Scientists’ explanations about what happens in the world come partly from what they observe, partly from what they think. Sometimes scientists have different explanations for the same set of observations. That usually leads to their making more observations to resolve the differences. (Page 11)