Science+Literacy

Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity. It also includes specific types of abilities.

Scientific literacy means that a person can ask, find, or determine answers to questions derived from curiosity about everyday experiences. It means that a person has the ability to describe, explain, and predict natural phenomena. Scientific literacy entails being able to read with understanding articles about science in the popular press and to engage in social conversation about the validity of the conclusions. Scientific literacy implies that a person can identify scientific issues underlying national and local decisions and express positions that are scientifically and technologically informed. A literate citizen should be able to evaluate the quality of scientific information on the basis of its source and the methods used to generate it. Scientific literacy also implies the capacity to pose and evaluate arguments based on evidence and to apply conclusions from such arguments appropriately. (National Science Education Standards, page 22)



The effective science teacher works to develop scientifically literate students. That is your challenge as you embark on this career. In order to effectively develop scientifically literate students, you must be scientifically literate yourself. This includes, among other things, understanding the nature of science as a discipline, including not only concepts but processes, limitations, etc. =Science Mystery Assignment:=

n Your job is to evaluate your assigned science mystery based on the following criteria…


 * 1) Overview (Description of what is expected)
 * 2) Concepts learned (Where in the curriculum could you use this mystery?)
 * 3) Skills learned (What do students learn besides concepts?)
 * 4) Difficulty (What grade level(s) would you use this mystery with? Why?)
 * 5) Value (Does this help students learn the concepts? Does it help them learn scientific literacy skills? Is it worth the time?)
 * 6) Enjoyment (Is this an enjoyable experience for students?)

You can find your mystery at www.sciencemystery.com

Maggie Quinn's Assessment of Angry Red Planet.

Meghan Bagby's Evaluation of Yellow Jackie

Milica Leone's Science Mystery Assessment of Two Forks, Idaho

John Abbott's Science Mystery Assessment of Strange Dead Kimberly Weems' Science Mystery Assessment of Rivre of Venom

Carrie Simonson Science Mystery Assessment of Two Forks, Idaho.

Jamie Benjamin's Evaluation of Angry Red Planet

Amanda Dawson's Science Mystery. Poison Dart Frog.

Melissa Doellman's Science Literacy Mystery-The Blackout Syndrome

Ammanda Wisniewski's Science Literacy Mystery: CROAK