Perspectives in Science and Social
Studies Inquiry Student Overview
Inquiry Overview
• During this inquiry you will research a science
or social studies inquiry question in order to
write an article. You will work in a group to
create a podcast show in which you interview
your classmates about their inquiry. In
addition, you will use your research to write
an opinion piece.
Choosing a Topic
The following four slides contain suggested
inquiry questions to help you choose your
topic and develop detailed questions.
What questions will you ask yourself to help
you select a science or social studies driving
question?
Science
Driving Questions
Informative Writing
• How have humans impacted a specific
biome?
• How has the impact of natural disasters
changed over time due to technology?
Science
Driving Questions
Opinion Writing
• Technology allows people to change the
environment to satisfy their wants and needs.
– Should people use technology to build humanmade features in locations where Earth's surface
may face fast or slow changes?
– What technologies should people use to secure
human-made features in locations that may be
impacted by changes to Earth’s surface?
Social Studies
Driving Questions
Informative Writing
 How was taxation a major factor leading
to the decision to declare for
independence?
 How did the slave trade affect the
economic growth of the colonies?
Social Studies
Driving Questions
Opinion Writing
• When thinking about the growth and
development of the three colonial regions…
– Which region or colony most exhibited democratic
ideas and practices in its government?
– Which region was most influenced by
specialization?
– Which region was most influenced by
natural/physical characteristics?
Informative Writing Piece
Introductory Paragraph
The informative piece includes:
• Introductory paragraph that
– states a thesis or main idea
– Provides statements to familiarize the reader with the
topic
– Uses a hook to interest the reader
Informative Writing Piece
Body Paragraph
The informative piece includes:
• Body paragraphs that
– supports the thesis or main idea using details,
definitions, and examples
– Use linking (transition) words to help the reader
– Present a point of view on the topic
– Share the answer to the inquiry question
– Use social studies & science vocabulary
Informative Writing Piece
Conclusion Paragraph
• Conclusion paragraph that
– Provides closure
– Provides information that summarizes the main ideas
and key details
Opinion Writing Piece
The opinion piece includes:
• Introductory paragraph that states your opinion
• Body paragraphs that use reasons and evidence to
communicate your opinion.
• Conclusion paragraph that summarizes your opinion.
Researching
Science and
Social Studies Content
Once you select your science or social studies
driving question, you must narrow your topic in
order to determine your information need.
When developing your detailed questions think
about what you need to know about the
content’s concepts to be able to answer the
driving inquiry question.
Presenting Your Research
You will publish your informative writing as a
feature article using a technology tool. The
feature article should include text features that
are common to feature articles such as:
headings, photographs, and graphics.
Presenting Your Research
You will also present your research by creating a
group podcast show. Your group will design the
format of the show and develop interview
questions to ask each other about your inquiry
topics.
You will listen to the other groups podcasts in
order to participate in collaborative
conversations about what you have learned.
Universal Design Criteria
When designing both your feature article and
your podcast shows you need to consider:
• Use of visuals to reduce barriers to
understanding content
• Use of audio to reduce barriers to
understanding content
• Use of text to reduce barriers to
understanding content
Resources to Explore
The MCPS Grade 4 MP4 Perspectives in Science and
Social Studies LiveBinder contains websites to use when
researching. In addition it contains information about
feature articles and creating podcasts.
Resources to Explore
The MCPS Grade 4 MP4 Perspectives in Science and
Social Studies LiveBinder contains websites to use when
researching. In addition it contains information about
feature articles and creating podcasts.
Understanding
Vocabulary
Knowing the meaning of domain specific
vocabulary is key to developing researchable
questions.
The following slides provide vocabulary relevant
to either the science or social studies driving
questions.
Definitions of
Science Key Terms
Physical Sciences: Matter
• matter- Matter is anything that has volume and mass.
• solid- Solid is the state in which a substance has a definite
volume and shape and resists forces which try to change these
properties.
• material- A material is something consisting of physical matter.
• substance- Substance is matter of a particular kind, or
chemical makeup.
• combine- Combine is to join together, or make substances join
together, to form a new material or mixture of materials.
• separate- Separate means to leave a larger group and become
independent. A mixture can be separated into component
parts, or be split into component parts.
• mixture- A mixture is a combination of substances that can be
physically separated from one another.
Definitions of
Science Key Terms
Earth Sciences: Geology
• Earth materials- Earth material is a general term that
includes rocks, minerals, sand, and soil.
• Earth’s surface, crust- The Earth’s surface or crust is
the thin rocky outer layer of the Earth.
• rock- Rocks are any consolidated material consisting of
one or more minerals and, sometimes, organic
material (e.g. granite, limestone).
• mineral- A mineral is a naturally occurring, nonliving
solid with a characteristic crystal, structure and definite
chemical makeup.
• soil- Soil is the outer layer of Earth's crust in which
plants can grow; made of bits of dead plant and animal
material as well as bits of rocks and minerals.
Definitions of
Science Key Terms
Physical Sciences: Properties of Matter
• observable properties- An observable property is any property of matter
that can be observed by your senses.
• physical properties- Physical properties include information and direct
evidence that can be collected by using senses and/or scientific
instruments.
• chemical reaction- A chemical reaction is a change that results in the
formation of new substances or materials.
• strength- Strength is the ability to withstand force, pressure, or stress.
• flexibility- Flexibility is the property to bend or be bent repeatedly without
damage or injury.
• hardness- Hardness is the property of a mineral's resistance to being
scratched.
• luster- Luster is the ability to reflect light.
• streak- Streak is the color of the powder that a mineral leaves when it is
rubbed on a hard, rough surface.
Definitions of
Science Key Terms
Earth Sciences: Processes for Changing Earth’s Surface
process- A process is a eries of natural occurrences that produce
change or development
temperature- Temperature is the measure of the average energy of
motion of the particles of a substance.
pressure- Pressure is the applying of a firm regular weight or force
against somebody or something.
gravity- Gravity is the force of gravitational attraction on or near the
surface of a celestial body. Gravity on Earth pulls object towards
Earth’s center.
weathering- Weathering is a chemical or physical process in which
rocks exposed to the weather are worn down by water, wind, or ice.
erosion- Erosion is the carrying away of weathered soil, rock, and
other materials on the Earth's surface by gravity, water, and wind.
deposition- Deposition is the process by which sediments are placed
in a new location.
Definitions of
Science Key Terms
Earth Sciences: Evidence of Earth’s Changing Surface
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paleontology, paleontologist- Paleontology is the study of life in prehistoric times by
using fossil evidence. A paleontologist is a scientist who uses fossils as evidence to
explain and describe organisms and environments from long ago.
fossil- A fossil is the remains or imprint of a prehistoric plant or animal.
organism- An organism is a living thing.
feature- A feature is a part of an organism that you can observe (behavioral or
physical).
environment- The environment is the physical surroundings of an organism which
includes the living and nonliving components.
rapid change, slow change- Rapid and slow are dependent on the comparisons used.
Rapid changes (i.e., an observable change to Earth’s surface that takes place within
days, weeks, or months) can be observed within a human lifetime. Slow changes (i.e.,
an observable change to Earth’s surface that takes place over many decades,
centuries, millennia, or even millions of years) occur over much longer periods of
time. evidence data or information that either supports a statement or shows that it
is not true
technology- Technology is the innovation, change, or modification of the natural
environment to satisfy perceived human needs and wants.
Definitions of
Social Studies Key Terms
(in alphabetical order)
• colony - A colony is an area of land controlled by
another, usually distant, country
• democratic ideas and practices - Democratic
ideas and practices are actions and ideas that
support a form of government in which power is
held by the people either directly or through
elected representatives
• economic growth - Economic growth occurs when
more goods and services are produced at the
present time than were produced in the past
Definitions of
Social Studies Key Terms
(in alphabetical order)
• geographic characteristics - Geographic
characteristics are traits that distinguish one
place from another. These are divided into
two groups: physical characteristics and
human characteristics.
• geography - Geography is the study of
characteristics of the Earth, whether
natural/physical, or human-made
Definitions of
Social Studies Key Terms
(in alphabetical order)
• human characteristics - Human characteristics
describe the people of a place past or present,
their human-made features (buildings, etc),
languages, religions, economic activities, and
political systems.
• natural/physical characteristics - Natural/physical
characteristics describe the natural environment
of a place. They include physical features (natural
landforms and bodies of water), weather and
climate, soil, vegetation, and animal life.
Definitions of
Social Studies Key Terms
(in alphabetical order)
• region - A region is an area that has one or more
geographic characteristics in common, such as Latin
America, an oil-producing region, or the South.
• slave trade - The slave trade refers to the business of buying
and selling people as laborers, especially the transportation
of Africans to the Americas in the 16th to 19th centuries.
• specialization - Specialization involves the production of a
narrow range of goods and services that cannot meet all
the economic wants of a community. Most people work in
jobs where they produce one or a few special goods or
services and purchase many goods and services from other
specialists.
Definitions of
Social Studies Key Terms
(in alphabetical order)
• technology - Technology includes the skills,
methods, tools, machines, and other things
used to perform activities. Technology
changes over time and affects the way people
live, work, and play.
• trading - Trading is the exchanging of
resources, goods and services through barter
or the use of money.
Definitions of
Social Studies Key Terms
(in alphabetical order)
• triangular trade - Triangular trade is a term
used to describe the pattern of trade between
three ports or regions. The best known
triangular trading system is the transatlantic
slave trade that operated from the late 16th to
early 19th centuries carrying slaves, cash crops,
and manufactured goods between West
Africa, colonies in the Carribean and America,
and the European colonial powers, such as
Great Britain.