When we wonder about something, we ask questions to help us understand it. Asking Questions is the second step of the scientific method. In science, we ask questions about things we don’t know the answer to but want to find out. We ask questions to help us solve problems.

STEP 2: Asking Questions & Solving Problems

When we wonder about something, we ask questions to help us understand it. Asking Questions is the second step of the scientific method. In science, we ask questions about things we don’t know the answer to but want to find out. We ask questions to help us solve problems.

Computer Science

CSS.IDC.K-2.4

Use the Design Process (use, modify, create) with a variety of tools to identify and solve problems by creating new, modified, or imaginative solutions.

CSS.IDC.3.5.4

Use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.

English Arts

ELAGSEKRL7

With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story (how illustrations support the text).

ELAGSE1RL7

Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

ELAGSE2RL7

Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.

ELAGSE3RL7

Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).

ELAGSEKW2

Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.

ELAGSE1W2

Write informative/ explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.

ELAGSE2W2

Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.

ELAGSE3W2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

ELAGSE4W2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

ELAGSE5W2

Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

ELAGSEKW8

With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

ELAGSE1W8

With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

ELAGSE2W8

Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

ELAGSE3W8

Recall information from experience or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

ELAGSE4W8

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.

ELAGSE5W8

Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.

ELAGSEKSL1

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

ELAGSE1SL1

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

ELAGSE2SL1

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

ELAGSE3SL1

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

ELAGSE4SL1

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

ELAGSE5SL1

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 5 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

ELAGSEKSL4

Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.

ELAGSE1SL4

Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.

ELAGSE2SL4

Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences.

ELAGSE3SL4

Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

ELAGSE4SL4

Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience in an organized manner, using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

ELAGSE5SL4

Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

ELAGSEKSL6

Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly.

ELAGSE1SL6

Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation.(See grade 1 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations.)

ELAGSE2SL6

Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification. (See grade 2 Language standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations.)

ELAGSE3SL6

Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification. (See grade 3 Language Standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations.)

ELAGSE4SL6

Differentiate between contexts that call for formal English (e.g., presenting ideas) and situations where informal discourse is appropriate (e.g., small-group discussion); use formal English when appropriate to task and situation. (See grade 4 Language Standard 1 for specific expectations.)

ELAGSE5SL6

Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English when appropriate to task and situation. (See grade 5 Language Standards 1 and 3 for specific expectations.)

Fine Arts

MAK.CR.1

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

MA1.CR.1

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

MA2.CR.1

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

MA3.CR.1

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

MA4.CR.1

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

MA5.CR.1

Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

Science

S2E3.a

Ask questions to obtain information about major changes to the environment in your community.

S2E3.b

Construct an explanation of the causes and effects of a change to the environment in your community.

SKP2.a

Plan and carry out an investigation to determine the relationship between an object's physical attributes and its resulting motion (straight, circular, back and forth, fast and slow, and motionless) when a force is applied.

SKP2.b

Construct an argument as to the best way to move an object based on its physical attributes.

S1P1.a

Use observations to construct an explanation of how light is required to make objects visible.

S1P1.b

Ask questions to identify and compare sources of light.

S1P1.d

Construct an explanation supported by evidence that vibrating materials can make sound and that sound can make materials vibrate.

S4P1.a

Plan and carry out investigations to observe and record how light interacts with various materials to classify them as opaque, transparent, or translucent.

S4P1.b

Plan and carry out investigations to describe the path light travels from a light source to a mirror and how it is reflected by the mirror using different angles.

S4P1.c

Plan and carry out an investigation utilizing everyday materials to explore examples of when light is refracted.

S4P2.a

Plan and carry out an investigation utilizing everyday objects to produce sound and predict the effects of changing the strength or speed of vibrations.

S4P2.b

Design and construct a device to communicate across a distance using light and/or sound.

SKL1.a

Construct an explanation based on observations to recognize the differences between organisms and non-living objects.

SKL1.b

Develop a model to represent how a set of organisms and non-living objects are sorted into groups based on their attributes.

S1L1.a

Develop models to identify the parts of a plant—root, stem, leaf, and flower.

S1L1.b

Ask questions to compare and contrast the basic needs of plants (air, water, light, and nutrients) and animals (air, water, food, and shelter).

S1L1.c

Design a solution to ensure that a plant or animal has all of its needs met.

S3L2.a

Ask questions to collect information and create records of sources and effects of pollution on the plants and animals.

S3L2.b

Explore, research, and communicate solutions, such as conservation of resources and recycling of materials, to protect plants and animals.