National Science Education Standards Journey North's Monarch Migration project helps bring a wide range of National Science Education Standards to life. Browse this chart by content area and then link directly to information and activities that reflect your teaching goals. As you review the activities, consider how you can adapt them to your unique context and students' abilities. A. Science as Inquiry B. Physical Science C. Life Science D. Earth and Space Science E. Science and Technology F. Science in Personal and Social Perspectives G. History and Nature of Science National Science Education Standard Journey North Monarch Activity or Lesson A. SCIENCE AS INQUIRY ABILITIES NECESSARY TO DO SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY (K-4) (5-8) Ask a question about objects, organisms, events. (K-4) Form and Function in Nature PoetrySanctuaryVideo Monarch Population Dynamics Write a Field Guide for Overwintering Sites Camouflage in the Overwintering Colonies Cascading Behavior Caterpillar Feast Larva Locomotion: A Closer Look A Butterfly is Born Feeding a Butterfly in Dr. Fink's Kitchen Monitoring Habitat While You Wait Monarch Butterfly Migration Checklist How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Field Studies You Can Do at Roost Sites An Amazing Monarch Story Arkansas Monarch Found 6 Miles From Home Mystery Monarch Adaptation Plan and conduct a simple investigation. (K-4) Life is Sweet for Monarchs Employ simple equipment/tools to gather data and extend senses. (K-4) Monarch Butterfly Migration Checklist Which Way to Mexico? Use data to conduct a reasonable explanation. (K-4) Predicting Monarchs' Spring Migration Route Monitoring the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary The Effect of Snow on Monarchs Caterpillar Feast Larva Locomotion: A Closer Look Which Grows Faster: Monarch or Milkweed? Expecting Monarchs in Arkansas Predicting the 1st Spring Generation Monitoring Spring Habitat While You Wait Monarchs in the News: Write a Column How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? The Monarchs That Flew the Wrong Way Not All Monarchs Make it to Mexico Can a Late-Season Monarch Make it to Mexico? Mass Migration in California: But Were They Monarchs? Human Population Centers and Monarch Reports Which Monarchs Are Migrating from Mexico? Comparing Monarch Migration Patterns from Year to Year Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast Expecting Monarchs in Arkansas: News from the Nursery Communicate investigations and explanations. (K-4)   Write a Field Guide for Monarch Overwintering Sites Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigations. (5-8) Cascading Behavior Larva Locomotion: A Closer Look Design and conduct a scientific investigation. (5-8)   Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data. (5-8) Monarch Butterfly Migration Checklist Estimating the Number of Monarchs in a Roost Which Way to Mexico? Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence. (5-8) Predicting the 1st Spring Generation Monitoring the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary Monitoring Spring Habitat While You Wait Monarchs in the News: Write a Column How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Not All Monarchs Make it to Mexico Can a Late-Season Monarch Make it to Mexico? Mass Migration in California: But Were They Monarchs? Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast Think critically and logically to make relationship between evidence and explanations. (5-8) Predicting the Spring Migration Route Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? The Monarchs That Flew the Wrong Way Mass Migration in California: But Were They Monarchs? Human Population Centers and Monarch Reports Recognize/analyze alternative explanations and predictions. (5-8) Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? Human Population Centers and Monarch Reports Use math in all aspects of scientific inquiry. (5-8) Counting All Butterflies: Estimating Pop. Size Which Grows Faster: Monarch or Milkweed? Predicting the 1st Spring Generation How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Migration Rate Math Roost Size Estimate The Extraordinary Travels of a Tagged Monarch Arkansas Monarch Found 6 Miles From Home Which Generation Goes to Mexico in the Fall? Migration Monitoring Sites When Do Monarchs Normally Arrive in Your Home Town? UNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT SCIENCE INQUIRY (K-4) (5-8) Science investigations involve asking and answering a question and comparing that to what scientists already know about the world. (K-4) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Why Do Monarchs Shiver? Living on Lipids: Surviving on Stored Energy The Effect of Snow on Monarchs The Cloud Effect Cascading Behavior Caterpillar Identification Quiz Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? How Do Monarchs Know Which Way to Fly? Mass Migration in California: But Were They Monarchs? Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer. Types of investigations include describing objects, events, and organisms; classifying them; and doing a fair test (experimenting). (K-4) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Monitoring the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary Why Do Monarchs Shiver? Millions of Monarchs Eaten By Predators Camouflage in the Overwintering Colonies Living on Lipids: Surviving on Stored Energy The Effect of Snow on Monarchs Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race Predators and Parasites on the Prowl Male vs. Female Monarch Behavior Expecting Monarchs in Arkansas Practice with Butterfly Identification Monitoring Habitat While You Wait Monarch Butterfly Migration Checklist How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Field Studies You Can Do at Roost Sites How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? How Do Monarchs Know Which Way to Fly? Migration Monitoring Sites Why Are Those Butterflies Behaving So Strangely? Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators Simple instruments, such as magnifiers, thermometers, and rulers, provide more information than scientists obtain using only their senses. (K-4) How Many Millions of Monarchs in Mexico? From Caterpillar to Chrysalis Life is Sweet for Monarchs Flapping Flight: a Look at Flight in Slow Motion Scientists develop explanations using observations (evidence) and what they already know about the world. Good explanations are based on evidence from investigations. (K-4) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Why Do Monarchs Shiver? Living on Lipids: Surviving on Stored Energy Cascading Behavior Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race Field Studies You Can Do at Roost Sites How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? Extraordinary Travels of a Tagged Monarch How Do Monarchs Know Which Way to Fly? Migration Monitoring Sites Mass Migration in California: But Were They Monarchs? Scientists make the results of their investigations public; they describe the investigations in ways that enable others to repeat the investigations. (K-4) Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race How Do Monarchs Know Which Way to Fly? Different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific investigations. Some involve observing and describing objects, organisms, or events; some involve collecting specimens; some involve experiments; some involve seeking more information; some involve discovery of new objects and phenomena; and some involve making models. (5-8) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Monitoring the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary Why Do Monarchs Shiver? Millions of Monarchs Eaten By Predators Camouflage in the Overwintering Colonies Living on Lipids: Surviving on Stored Energy The Effect of Snow on Monarchs Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race Male vs. Female Monarch Behavior Practice with Butterfly Identification Monitoring Habitat While You Wait Monarch Butterfly Migration Checklist How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Field Studies You Can Do at Roost Sites How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? How Do Monarchs Know Which Way to Fly? Technology used to gather data enhances accuracy and allows scientists to analyze and quantify results of investigations. (5-8) How Many Millions of Monarchs in Mexico? Current scientific knowledge and understanding guide scientific investigations. (5-8) Why Do Monarchs Shiver? The Cloud Effect How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? How Do Monarchs Know Which Way to Fly? Scientific explanations emphasize evidence, have logically consistent arguments, and use scientific principles, models, and theories. The scientific community accepts and uses such explanations until displaced by better scientific ones. When such displacement occurs, science advances. (5-8) Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? Mathematics is important in all aspects of scientific inquiry. (5-8) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Monarchs in the News: Populations Rebound How Many Millions of Monarchs in Mexico? Counting All Butterflies: Estimating Population Estimating the Number of Monarchs in a Roost Record Flight By a Tagged Monarch B. PHYSICAL SCIENCE PROPERTIES OF OBJECTS AND MATERIALS (K-4) (5-8) Materials can exist in different states?solid, liquid, and gas. Some common materials, such as water, can be changed from one state to another by heating or cooling. (K-4) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs The Effect of Cold, Wet Weather on Monarchs Up Up and Away: Thermals and Updrafts POSITION AND MOTION OF OBJECTS An object's motion can be described by tracing and measuring its position over time. (K-4) Up Up and Away: Thermals and Updrafts Extraordinary Travels of a Tagged Monarch MOTIONS AND FORCES If more than one force acts on an object along a straight line, then the forces will reinforce or cancel one another, depending on their direction and magnitude. Unbalanced forces will cause changes in the speed or direction of an object's motion. (5-8) Up Up and Away: Thermals and Updrafts TRANSFER OF ENERGY Heat moves in predictable ways, flowing from warmer objects to cooler ones, until both reach the same temperature. (5-8) Up Up and Away: Thermals and Updrafts C. LIFE SCIENCE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANISMS (K-4) (5-8) Organisms have basic needs. For example, animals need air, water and food; plants require air, water, nutrients, and light. Organisms can survive only in environments in which their needs can be met. The world has many different environments, and distinct ones support the life of different types of organisms. (K-4) Geography and Migration.html The Monarch's Forest Ecosystem A Day in the Life of a Butterfly Egg Life of a Monarch Caterpillar Caterpillar Feast Exploring Milkweed Ecology Life is Sweet for Monarchs How is a Human Vacation Like Monarch Migration? Story of a Life's Journey Monarch Migration Updates for Sanctuary Schools How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Do Monarchs Rest at the same Sites Every Fall? Why is Nectar So Important to Monarchs in the Fall? Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast Welcome Back to School: Learning vs. Instinct Milkweeds and Monarchs: Comparing Adaptation Strategies Exploring the Monarch's Winter Habitat Each plant or animal has different structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, reproduction. (K-4) Camouflage in the Overwintering Colonies Increased Mating Signals End of Winter Season A Look at the Life of a Monarch Caterpillar Larva Locomotion: A Closer Look From Caterpillar to Chrysalis Exploring Milkweed Ecology Feeding a Butterfly in Dr. Fink's Kitchen Life is Sweet for Monarchs How is a Human Vacation Like Monarch Migration? Story of a Life's Journey Why is Nectar so Important to Butterflies in the Fall? Mystery Monarch Adaptation Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast Why Don't Cold Butterflies Fall? The behavior of individual organisms is influenced by internal cues (such as hunger) and by external cues (such as a change in the environment). Humans and other organisms have senses that help them detect internal and external cues. (K-4) Geography and Migration How Much Space Does a Monarch Colony Need? Seasonal History of a Monarch Colony Monitoring the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary Living on Lipids: Surviving on Stored Energy The Cloud Effect Monarch Migration Updates for Sanctuary Area Schools Do Monarchs Rest at the same Sites Every Fall? How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? How High Do Monarchs Fly During Fall Migration? Fall Monarch Migration: Cold Fronts and Winds Why is Nectar so Important to Butterflies in the Fall? Monarch Generations: Which One Goes to Mexico? How Do Monarchs Know Which Way to Fly? The Monarchs' Migration Pathway Through Mexico Migration Monitoring Sites Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast The Overnight Roost Why Are Those Butterflies Behaving So Strangely? Why Do Monarchs Shiver? LIFE CYCLES OF ORGANISMS Plants and animals have life cycles that include being born, developing into adults, reproducing, and eventually dying. The details of this life cycle are different for different organisms. (K-4) Increased Mating Signals End of Winter Season Monarch Life Cycle A Day in the Life of a Butterfly Egg From Caterpillar to Chrysalis Insect Reproduction Strategy A Butterfly is Born Predators and Parasites on the Prowl Monarch Life Cycle: What is a Generation? How Long Do Monarchs Live? Estimating the Lifespan Expecting Monarchs in Arkansas Predicting the 1st Spring Generation Story of a Life's Journey Monarch Migration Updates for Sanctuary Area Schools Monarch Generations: Which One Goes to Mexico? Expecting Monarchs in Arkansas: News from the Nursery ORGANISMS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTS All animals depend on plants. Some animals eat plants for food. Others eat animals that eat plants. (K-4) Which Grows Faster: A Monarch or a Milkweed Plant? Exploring Milkweed Ecology Recommended Reading: Milkweed, Monarchs, and More Life is Sweet for Monarchs Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators An organism's behavior patterns are related to the nature of that organism's environment, including the kinds and number of other organisms present, the availability of food and resources, and the physical characteristics of the environment. When environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce, and others die or move to new locations. (K-4) How Much Space Does a Monarch Colony Need? Introducing Dr. Bill Calvert Monarch Population Dynamics Why Do Monarchs Shiver? Recommended Reading: Milkweed, Monarchs, and More Field Studies You Can Do at Roost Sites Do Monarchs Rest at the Same Roost Sites Every Fall? Flapping Flight: A Look at Flight in Slow Motion Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast Milkweeds and Monarchs: Comparing Adaptation Strategies Exploring the Monarch's Winter Habitat Why Are Those Butterflies Behaving So Strangely? Why Do Monarchs Shiver? Humans depend on their natural and constructed environments. Humans change environments in ways that can be either beneficial or detrimental for themselves and other organisms. (K-4) Domestic Uses of Wood: A Ranch Tour with Noemi's Dad Deforestation Maps of Monarch's Forest Deforestation in the Sanctuaries: Domestic Uses of Wood Causes of Deforestation Monarch Conservation News From Mexico About Conservation Perspectives Storm Kills Over 75% of N. America's Migratory Monarchs Monarchs in the News: Population Rebounds Measure Your Ecological Footprint STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN LIVING SYSTEMS Living systems at all levels of organization demonstrate the complementary nature of structure and function. (5-8) Form and Function in Nature From Caterpillar to Chrysalis Exploring Milkweed Ecology Feeding a Butterfly in Dr. Fink's Kitchen Life is Sweet for Monarchs Up Up and Away: Thermals and Updrafts Adaptations to a World in Which Warm Air Rises Why is Nectar So Important to Monarchs in the Fall? Mystery Monarch Adaptation Flower-powered Migratory Species: Compare/Contrast Why Don't Cold Butterflies Fall? REPRODUCTION AND HEREDITY Reproduction is a characteristic of all living systems; because no individual organism lives forever, reproduction is essential to the continuation of every species. Some organisms reproduce asexually. Other organisms reproduce sexually. (5-8) Monarch Life Cycle: What is a Generation? Male vs. Female Monarch Behavior Increased Mating Signals End of Wintering Season Insect Reproduction Strategy Expecting Monarchs in Arkansas: News from the Nursery   In many species, including humans, females produce eggs and males produce sperm. Plants also produce sexually?the egg and sperm are produced in the flowers of flowering plants. An egg and sperm unite to begin development of a new individual. That individual receives genetic information from its mother (via the egg) and its father (via the sperm). Sexually produced offspring never are identical to either of their parents. (5-8) Increased Mating Signals End of Wintering Season Every organism requires a set of instructions for specifying its traits. Heredity is the passage of these instructions from one generation to another. (5-8) Increased Mating Signals End of Wintering Season Insect Reproduction Strategy REGULATION AND BEHAVIOR All organisms must be able to obtain and use resources, grow, reproduce, and maintain stable internal conditions in a constantly changing external environment. (5-8) How Much Space Does a Monarch Colony Need? Seasonal History of a Monarch Colony Geography and Migration.html Life of a Monarch Caterpillar Story of a Life's Journey Entire Monarch Study Milkweeds and Monarchs: Comparing Adaptation Strategies Exploring the Monarch's Winter Habitat Why Are Those Butterflies Behaving So Strangely? Why Do Monarchs Shiver?   Regulation of an organism's internal environment involves sensing the internal environment and changing physiological activities to keep conditions within range required to survive. (5-8) The Monarch's Forest Ecosystem Why Do Monarchs Shiver? How High Do Monarchs Fly During Fall Migration? The Overnight Roost Why Are Those Butterflies Behaving So Strangely? Why Do Monarchs Shiver?   Behavior is one kind of response an organism can make to an internal or environmental stimulus. A behavioral response requires coordination and communication at many levels, including cells, organ systems, and whole organisms. Behavioral response is determined in part by heredity and in part from experience. (5-8) Seasonal History of a Monarch Colony The Cloud Effect Life of a Monarch Caterpillar Insect Reproduction Strategy Increased Mating Signals End of Wintering Season Do Monarchs Roost at the Same Sites Every Fall? How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? How High Do Monarchs Fly During Fall Migration? Welcome Back to School: Learning vs. Instinct An organism's behavior evolves through adaptation to its environment. How a species moves, obtains food, reproduces, and responds to danger are based in the species' evolutionary history. (5-8) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race Exploring Milkweed Ecology Historic Importance of the Prairie Ecosystem to Monarchs Adaptations to a World in Which Warm Air Rises Songbirds Fly Under Night Skies. Do Monarchs? Milkweeds and Monarchs: Comparing Adaptation Strategies POPULATIONS AND ECOSYSTEMS Populations of organisms can be categorized by the function they serve in an ecosystem. Plants and some microorganisms are producers?they make their own food. All animals, including humans, are consumers, which obtain food by eating other organisms. Decomposers, primarily bacteria and fungi, are consumers that use waste materials and dead organisms for food. Food webs identify the relationships among producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem. (5-8) Recommended Reading: Milkweed, Monarchs, and More Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators The number of organisms an ecosystem can support depends on resources available and abiotic factors, such as quantity of light and water, range of temperatures, and soil composition. Given adequate biotic and abiotic resources and no disease or predators, populations increase at rapid rates. Lack of resources and other factors, such as predation and climate, limit the growth of populations in specific in certain niches. (5-8) Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators DIVERSITY AND ADAPTATIONS Biological evolution accounts for the diversity of species through gradual processes over many generations. Species acquire many of their unique characteristics through biological adaptation, which involves the selection of naturally occurring variations in populations. Biological adaptations include changes in structures, behaviors, or physiology that enhance survival and reproductive success in a particular environment. (5-8) The Monarch's Forest Ecosystem Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators Camouflage in the Overwintering Colonies Herbivores and Plants: A Coevolutionary Arms Race Recommended Reading: Milkweed, Monarchs, and More Life is Sweet for Monarchs Historic Importance of the Prairie Ecosystem to Monarchs Increased Mating Signals End of Wintering Season Adaptations to a World in Which Warm Air Rises Mystery Monarch Adaptation Songbirds Fly Under Night Skies. Do Monarchs? Why Don't Cold Butterflies Fall? Millions of Monarchs Eaten by Predators D. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE PROPERTIES OF EARTH MATERIALS (K-4) (5-8) Soils have properties of color and texture, capacity to retain water, and ability to support the growth of many kinds of plants, including those in our food supply. (K-4) Causes of Deforestation CHANGES IN THE EARTH AND SKY Weather changes from day to day and over the seasons. Weather can be described by measurable quantities, such as temperature, wind direction and speed, and precipitation. (K-4) The Monarch's Forest Ecosystem Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs How to Track the Monarch Migration to Mexico Do Monarchs Rest at the same Sites Every Fall? GulfCrossingDebate.html Fall Monarch Migration: Cold Fronts and Winds The Extraordinary Travels of a Tagged Monarch The Monarchs That Flew the Wrong Way The Overnight Roost STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH SYSTEM Clouds, formed by the condensation of water vapor, affect weather and climate. (5-8) Field Trip in the Sky: Flying in a Thermal E. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (K-4) (5-8) People have always had questions about their world. Science is one way of answering questions and explaining the natural world. (K-4) Monarch Population Dynamics Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Field Studies You Can Do at Roost Sites Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? OrientationFrost.html Scientists and engineers often work in teams with different individuals doing different things that contribute to the results. This understanding focuses primarily on teams working together and secondarily, on the combination of scientist and engineer teams. (K-4) Deforestation in the Sanctuaries: Domestic Uses of Wood Women and men of all ages, backgrounds, and groups engage in a variety of scientific and technological work. (K-4) Introducing Dr. Bill Calvert Monitoring the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary Historic Importance of the Prairie Ecosystem to Monarchs Tools help scientists make better observations, measurements, and equipment for investigations. They help scientists see, measure, and do things that they could not otherwise see, measure, and do. (K-4) From Caterpillar to Chrysalis F. SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES (K-4) (5-8) TYPES OF RESOURCES Resources are things we get from living and nonliving environment to meet the needs and wants of a population. (K-4) Domestic Uses of Wood: A Ranch Tour with Noemi's Dad Causes of Deforestation Reforestation Solutions: Michoacan Reforestation Fund Life in the Mexican Monarch Sanctuary Region Measure Your Ecological Footprint Some resources are basic materials, such as air, water, and soil; some are produced from basic resources, such as food, fuel, and building materials; and some resources are nonmaterial, such as quiet places, beauty, security, and safety. (K-4) Deforestation in the Sanctuaries: Domestic Uses of Wood Causes of Deforestation Reforestation Solutions: Michoacan Reforestation Fund Life in the Mexican Monarch Sanctuary Region Measure Your Ecological Footprint The supply of many resources is limited. If used, resources can be extended through recycling and decreased use. (K-4) Deforestation in the Sanctuaries: Domestic Uses of Wood Reforestation Solutions: Michoacan Reforestation Fund Life in the Mexican Monarch Sanctuary Region CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTS Environments are the spaces, conditions, and factors that affect an individual's and a population's ability to survive and their quality of life. (K-4)   Changes in environments can be natural or influenced by humans. Some changes are good, some are bad, and some are neither. Pollution is a change in the environment that can influence the health, survival, or activities of organisms, including humans. (K-4) The Children's Monarch Reforestation Project Deforestation Maps of Monarch's Forest Causes of Deforestation Monarchs in the News: Populations Rebound The Effect of Cold, Wet Weather on Monarchs Historic Importance of the Prairie Ecosystem to Monarchs Measure Your Ecological Footprint Some environmental changes occur slowly and others occur rapidly. Students should understand the different consequences of changing environments in small increments over long periods as compared with changing environments in large increments over short periods. (K-4)   POPULATIONS, RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTS Causes of environmental degradation and resource depletion vary from region to region and country to country. (5-8) Monarch Conservation News From Mexico About Conservation Perspectives Measure Your Ecological Footprint NATURAL HAZARDS Human activities also can induce hazards through resource acquisition, urban growth, land-use decisions, and waste disposal. Such activities can accelerate many natural changes. (5-8) Causes of Deforestation The Children's Monarch Reforestation Project G. HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE SCIENCE AS A HUMAN ENDEAVOR (K-4) (5-8) Although men and women using scientific inquiry have learned much about the objects, events, and phenomena in nature, much more remains to be understood. Science will never be finished. (K-4) Storm Kills Over 75% of Overwintering Monarchs Cascading Behavior Field Studies You Can Do at Roost Sites How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? Which Way to Mexico? Which Monarchs Are Migrating from Mexico? Many people choose science as a career and devote their entire lives to studying it. Many people derive great pleasure from doing science. (K-4) Monitoring the Sierra Chincua Sanctuary From Caterpillar to Chrysalis Historic Importance of the Prairie Ecosystem to Monarchs How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? Discovery Tale: Two Geographic Clues Led to Monarchs NATURE OF SCIENCE Scientists formulate and test their explanations of nature using observation, experiments, and theoretical and mathematical models. Although all scientific ideas are tentative and subject to change and improvement in principle, for most major ideas in science, there is much experimental and observational confirmation. Those ideas are not likely to change greatly. Scientists do and have changed their ideas about nature when they encounter new experimental evidence that does not match their existing explanations. (5-8) How Does Scent Attract Monarchs to Roosts? Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? It is part of scientific inquiry to evaluate the results of scientific investigations, experiments, observations, theoretical models, and the explanations proposed by other scientists. Evaluation includes reviewing experimental procedures, examining the evidence, identifying faulty reasoning, pointing out statements that go beyond the evidence, and suggesting alternative explanations for the same observations. Although scientists may disagree about explanations of phenomena, about interpretations of data, or about the value of rival theories, they do agree that questioning, response to criticism, and open communication are integral to the process of science. As scientific knowledge evolves, major disagreements are eventually resolved through such interactions between scientists. (5-8) Do Monarchs Migrate Across the Gulf? Citizen Science and Journey North Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form