Scientific Knowledge Is Open to Revision in Light of New Evidence

Primary School (K-2)

  • Science knowledge can change when new information is found.

Elementary School (3-5)

  • Science explanations can change based on new evidence.

Middle School (6-8)

  • Scientific explanations are subject to revision and improvement in light of new evidence.
  • The certainty and durability of science findings varies.
  • Science findings are frequently revised and/or reinterpreted based on new evidence.

High School (9-12)

  • Scientific explanations can be probabilistic.
  • Most scientific knowledge is quite durable, but is, in principle, subject to change based on new evidence and/or reinterpretation of existing evidence.
  • Scientific argumentation is a mode of logical discourse used to clarify the strength of relationships between ideas and evidence that may result in revision of an explanation.

These understandings about the nature of science are found in the practices section of the foundation box on a standards page.

Other Standards That Use This Connection to the Nature of Science:

Middle School