👩 Teacher’s Guide

🎯 Objective

Students will be able to:

• Describe how science affects everyday life and decision-making
• Identify ways society influences what scientists study and fund
• Use evidence to discuss a science-related issue fairly

📝 Teaching Notes

• Key idea to emphasize: Main concept: science and society influence each other.
• Common misconception: Misconception: science is separate from values and choices.
• Suggested teaching approach:
  • Compare scientific evidence vs. policy decisions.
  • Discuss who benefits and who pays the costs of technologies.
  • Practice respectful evidence-based debate.

💬 Discussion Starter

Ask students:

• Why is evidence more important than opinion in science?
• What makes an experiment a “fair test”?
• How can scientists disagree and still make progress?

🧒 Student Worksheet

Concept and Helping Material

Science affects society through technology, health, and the environment, while society influences science through funding, needs, laws, and ethical choices. Good decisions use evidence and consider people’s values.

Vocabulary and Definitions

• — Rules or plans made by governments or organizations.
• — Ideas about what is right or fair.
• — A preference that can affect decisions or interpretation.
• — A person or group affected by a decision.
• — Actions that protect and improve community health.

Hands-On Experiment or Activities

Activity 1: Evidence vs Opinion Sort
What You Need: statement cards about a science issue (recycling, vaccinations, energy).
What You Do: Sort statements into evidence-based, opinion, and mixed; rewrite mixed ones to be evidence-based.
Think and Talk: What changed? What stayed the same?

Activity 2: Stakeholder Map
What You Need: large paper, markers.
What You Do: Pick a technology (wind farm, new medicine) and map who benefits, who is affected, and what questions they have.
Think and Talk: What changed? What stayed the same?

Practice Questions (QA)

1. Give one way science influences society.
2. Give one way society influences science.
3. What is an ethical issue in science?
4. Why is communication important in science?
5. What is a stakeholder?
6. Why can two groups disagree about the same evidence?
7. What is the difference between data and opinion?
8. Why is scientific literacy useful?
9. Name one place you see science used daily.
10. Why should sources be checked?

Reflection

• How could science and society help you make a better decision in real life?
• What is one habit you can practice to improve your scientific thinking?