;
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
14
Practice Juniors n=15 Seniors n=7 Total n=22
Asking questions and defining
problems
10 6 16
Developing and using models 6 5 11
Planning and carrying out
investigations
11 7 18
Analyzing and interpreting data 3 2 5
Using mathematics and
computational thinking
9 2 11
Constructing explanations and
designing solutions
8 6 14
Engaging in written and oral
argument from evidence
3 1 4
Obtaining, evaluating, and
communicating information
13 7 20
Table 2. Frequency of students demonstrating science and engineering
practices.
There were differences between how the juniors and seniors
approached inquiry. The younger students were very much caught up in the
"doing" part of their investigations. They freely asked additional questions and
vigorously manipulated materials. Junior students did not anticipate the
details of conducting their investigations, but rose to the occasion and
attacked the evolving issues. The consumer organization support personnel
made frequent shopping trips to the hardware and grocery store to obtain the
unexpected materials that the students requested. The ice cream project
41
