(5-8) M2

Science Curriculum Preview Committee Clarification of Learning Results

Revised 07/01/04

5-8

M2: Describe the historical and cultural conditions at the time of an invention or discovery, and analyze the societal impacts of that invention.

Curriculum Organizing Questions

What was happening in the world when this discovery was made?

How did this discovery impact the world at the time?

What was daily life like for the people involved before they made their discovery? After?

How did this change society?

Elaboration
Science / technology and society influence one another. Science is a human endeavor, and as such it is influenced by (and influences) societal views, cultural views, and ways of viewing the world. Technology influences society through its products and processes.

Specific Ideas

Technologies having to do with food production, sanitation, and disease prevention have dramatically changed how people live and work and have resulted in rapid increases in the human population.Benchmarks 6A6.

By the way they depict the ideas and customs of one culture, communications media may stimulate changes in others.Benchmarks 7C2.

Progress in science and invention depends heavily on what else is happening in society, and history often depends on scientific and technological developments.Benchmarks 1C3 (9-12).

Throughout history, people have carried out impressive technological feats, some of which would be hard to duplicate today even with modern tools, The purposes served by these achievements have sometimes been practical, sometimes ceremonial.Benchmarks 3C3.

Technology has strongly influenced the course of history and continues to do so. It is largely responsible for the great revolutions in agriculture, manufacturing, sanitation and medicine, warfare, transportation, information processing, and communications that have radically changed how people live.Benchmarks 3C4.

The Industrial Revolution happened first in Great Britain because that country made practical use of science, had access by sea to world resources and markets, and had an excess of farm workers willing to become factory workers.Benchmarks 10J1 (9-12).See 10J1 & 2 of 6-8.

The Industrial Revolution increased the productivity of each worker but it also increased child labor and unhealthy working conditions, and it gradually destroyed the craft tradition. the economic imbalances of the Industrial Revolution led to a growing conflict between factory owners and workers and contributed to the main political ideologies of the 20th century. Benchmarks 10J2 (9-12). See 10J1 & 2 of 6-8

Science and technology have advanced through contributions of many different people, in different cultures, at different times in history. Science and technology have contributed enormously to economic growth and productivity among societies and within societies.NSES F5d.

Developmental & Instructional Implications
Little research has been reported on the use of history in teaching about the nature of science. But learning about the history of science might help students to improve their general understanding of science. Teachers should be sensitive to the student's lack of knowledge and perspective on time, duration, and succession when it come to historical study. Students may have difficulties understanding the views of historical figures. For example, students may think of historical figures as inferior because they did not understand what we do today. NSES p. 200.

Strong link to social studies.

Examples

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

Curriculum Organizing Questions	What was happening in the world when this discovery was made? How did this discovery impact the world at the time? What was daily life like for the people involved before they made their discovery? After? How did this change society?
Elaboration	Science / technology and society influence one another. Science is a human endeavor, and as such it is influenced by (and influences) societal views, cultural views, and ways of viewing the world. Technology influences society through its products and processes.
Specific Ideas	Technologies having to do with food production, sanitation, and disease prevention have dramatically changed how people live and work and have resulted in rapid increases in the human population.Benchmarks 6A6. By the way they depict the ideas and customs of one culture, communications media may stimulate changes in others.Benchmarks 7C2. Progress in science and invention depends heavily on what else is happening in society, and history often depends on scientific and technological developments.Benchmarks 1C3 (9-12). Throughout history, people have carried out impressive technological feats, some of which would be hard to duplicate today even with modern tools, The purposes served by these achievements have sometimes been practical, sometimes ceremonial.Benchmarks 3C3. Technology has strongly influenced the course of history and continues to do so. It is largely responsible for the great revolutions in agriculture, manufacturing, sanitation and medicine, warfare, transportation, information processing, and communications that have radically changed how people live.Benchmarks 3C4. The Industrial Revolution happened first in Great Britain because that country made practical use of science, had access by sea to world resources and markets, and had an excess of farm workers willing to become factory workers.Benchmarks 10J1 (9-12).See 10J1 & 2 of 6-8. The Industrial Revolution increased the productivity of each worker but it also increased child labor and unhealthy working conditions, and it gradually destroyed the craft tradition. the economic imbalances of the Industrial Revolution led to a growing conflict between factory owners and workers and contributed to the main political ideologies of the 20th century. Benchmarks 10J2 (9-12). See 10J1 & 2 of 6-8 Science and technology have advanced through contributions of many different people, in different cultures, at different times in history. Science and technology have contributed enormously to economic growth and productivity among societies and within societies.NSES F5d.
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Little research has been reported on the use of history in teaching about the nature of science. But learning about the history of science might help students to improve their general understanding of science. Teachers should be sensitive to the student's lack of knowledge and perspective on time, duration, and succession when it come to historical study. Students may have difficulties understanding the views of historical figures. For example, students may think of historical figures as inferior because they did not understand what we do today. NSES p. 200. Strong link to social studies.
Examples