Alaska Science
Key Element D2

A student who meets the content standard should understand that scientific innovations may affect our economy, safety, environment, health, and society and that these effects may be short-term or long-term, positive or negative, and expected or unexpected.

Performance Standard Level 2, Ages 8–10

Students describe the various effects of an innovation on the safety, health and environment of the local community.

Sample Assessment Ideas

• Students examine advantages and disadvantages of traditional sinew used for thread compared with commercial threads and dental floss.

• Students examine the positive and negative, long- and short-term effects of using dog teams vs. snow machines for travel.

Standards Cross-References
( Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Standards)

National Science Education Standards

People have always had problems and invented tools and techniques (ways of doing something) to solve problems. Trying to determine the effects of solutions helps people avoid some new problems. (Page 138)

People continue inventing new ways of doing things, solving problems, and getting work done. New ideas and inventions often affect other people; sometimes the effects are good and sometimes they are bad. It is helpful to try to determine in advance how ideas and inventions will affect other people. (Page 140)

Science and technology have greatly improved food quality and quantity, transportation, health, sanitation, and communication. These benefits of science and technology are not available to all of the people in the world. (Page 141)

Benchmarks

Technology extends the ability of people to change the world: to cut, shape, or put together materials; to move things from one place to another; and to reach farther with their hands, voices, senses, and minds. The changes may be for survival needs, such as food, shelter, and defense, for communication and transportation, or to gain knowledge and express ideas. (Page 45)

The solution to one problem may create other problems. (Page 50)

Technology has been part of life on the Earth since the advent of the human species. Like language, ritual, commerce, and the arts, technology is an intrinsic part of human culture, and it both shapes society and is shaped by it. The technology available to people greatly influences what their lives are like. (Page 54)