(3-4) M3

Science Curriculum Preview Committee Clarification of Learning Results

Revised 07/01/04

3-4

M3: Explore how technology has altered human settlement.

Curriculum Organizing Questions

How are cities and towns different from what they were?

Where are some places where people live today but didn't used to?

Where and how would you live if you couldn't have any tools, or clothes, or inventions of any kind?

Elaboration
The basic idea here is that social and technological systems interact strongly.

Technology has been part of life on the earth since the advent of the human species. Like language, ritual, commerce, and the arts, technology is an intrinsic part of human culture, and it both shapes society and is shaped by it. The technology available to people greatly influences what their lives are like. Benchmarks 3C1.

The focus here is primarily on settlements.

Specific Ideas

Machines improve what people get from crops by helping in planting and harvesting, in keeping food fresh by packaging and cooling, and in moving it long distances from where it is grown to where people live.Benchmarks 8A1 (K-2).

Places too cold or dry to grow certain crops can obtain food from places with more suitable climates. Much of the food eaten by Americans comes from other parts of the country and other places in the world. Benchmarks 8A5.

Communication technologies make it possible to send and receive information more and more reliably, quickly, and cheaply over long distances. Benchmarks 8D4.

Technology extends the ability of people to change the world; to cut, shape, or put together materials; to move things from one place to another; and to reach farther with the hands, voices, senses, and minds. The changes may be for survival needs such as food, shelter, and defense, for communication and transportation, or to gain knowledge and express ideas.Benchmarks 3Ad.

Irrigation and fertilizers can help crops grow in places where there is too little water or the soil is poor.Benchmarks 8A1.

New technology can change cultural values and social behavior. Benchmarks 74a (6-8).

Developmental & Instructional Implications
Strong link to social studies.

Examples

Back to Big Ideas Grid M Back to Standard M Back to Index

Curriculum Organizing Questions	How are cities and towns different from what they were? Where are some places where people live today but didn't used to? Where and how would you live if you couldn't have any tools, or clothes, or inventions of any kind?
Elaboration	The basic idea here is that social and technological systems interact strongly. Technology has been part of life on the earth since the advent of the human species. Like language, ritual, commerce, and the arts, technology is an intrinsic part of human culture, and it both shapes society and is shaped by it. The technology available to people greatly influences what their lives are like. Benchmarks 3C1. The focus here is primarily on settlements.
Specific Ideas	Machines improve what people get from crops by helping in planting and harvesting, in keeping food fresh by packaging and cooling, and in moving it long distances from where it is grown to where people live.Benchmarks 8A1 (K-2). Places too cold or dry to grow certain crops can obtain food from places with more suitable climates. Much of the food eaten by Americans comes from other parts of the country and other places in the world. Benchmarks 8A5. Communication technologies make it possible to send and receive information more and more reliably, quickly, and cheaply over long distances. Benchmarks 8D4. Technology extends the ability of people to change the world; to cut, shape, or put together materials; to move things from one place to another; and to reach farther with the hands, voices, senses, and minds. The changes may be for survival needs such as food, shelter, and defense, for communication and transportation, or to gain knowledge and express ideas.Benchmarks 3Ad. Irrigation and fertilizers can help crops grow in places where there is too little water or the soil is poor.Benchmarks 8A1. New technology can change cultural values and social behavior. Benchmarks 74a (6-8).
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Strong link to social studies.
Examples