scientific thinking flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from lecture notes on interdisciplinary instruction, scientific systems, evidence, models, scientific terminology, decision-making, and critical thinking.

Interdisciplinary Instruction

An educational approach that integrates multiple subject areas to help students see connections and make learning more meaningful and relevant.

Thematic Unit

A collection of lessons and activities organized around a central theme (e.g., a rainforest) that incorporates multiple skills and subject areas.

Scientific System

A set of related objects or components—including parts, input, output, boundaries, and feedback—studied together to understand matter and energy interactions.

System Feedback

Information that a system uses to monitor itself and adjust its behavior; includes negative and positive feedback.

Negative Feedback

A feedback mechanism that returns a system to its original state (e.g., human body temperature regulation).

Positive Feedback

A feedback mechanism that amplifies change in the same direction (e.g., global warming accelerating ice melt).

System Change

Any alteration in a system’s behavior or composition, which may be abrupt or gradual.

Natural Phenomena

Events such as volcanic eruptions or earthquakes that can cause drastic changes in Earth systems.

Evolution

A series of biological changes over time driven by random genetic mutations and natural selection.

Scientific Evidence

Experimental data, measurements, and observations used to explain and predict natural phenomena.

Scientific Model

A representation—mathematical, physical, or conceptual—used to explain and predict behavior in a system.

Mathematical Model

A formula or set of equations that calculates or predicts scientific phenomena.

Physical Model

A tangible, scale representation of an object or system, such as a globe or molecule kit.

Conceptual Model

A diagram or verbal description that illustrates relationships within a complex system or process.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction derived from observations, subject to experimentation and verification.

Scientific Theory

A well-supported explanation that unifies many hypotheses and a large body of evidence; explains why phenomena occur.

Scientific Law

A concise statement—often mathematical—that describes consistent, observable relationships in nature; tells what happens rather than why.

Risk Assessment

The systematic process of identifying problems, predicting outcomes, conducting research, and interpreting results to guide decisions.

Ethical Standards in Science

Principles that ensure research respects safety, honesty, and societal values during scientific advancement.

Critical Thinking in Science Education

Instructional practices that prompt students to apply knowledge, evaluate evidence, and create ‘what if’ scenarios to deepen understanding.