Virginia SOL LS.1.d.ii
The Standard
construct scientific explanations based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources (including the students' own investigations)
Virginia Standards of Learning for Science · The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students answer a scientific question with a clear claim, evidence from an investigation or trustworthy source, and reasoning that links the evidence to the claim. They check whether the evidence is relevant, repeatable, and collected fairly.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student selects the strongest data, cites its source, and explains why it supports the claim. The student can identify weak evidence, revise an explanation, and name limits in the data.
Common Misconceptions
- Students often list results without explaining how those results support a claim. They may treat opinions, one unusual trial, or unrelated facts as reliable evidence.
How to Assess It
- Give this result: three fertilized bean plants grew 6, 7, and 7 cm, while three unfertilized plants grew 2, 3, and 3 cm. Ask students to state a claim, cite two measurements, explain the link, and name one factor affecting reliability.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Teams test three paper towel brands for absorbency, repeat each trial, then write and critique explanations based on their measurements.
Give two explanations for mold growth, then have pairs underline claims, circle evidence, and discuss which explanation is better supported.
Play an evidence sort game where students match data cards to claims and reject irrelevant or unreliable cards.
Use local weather and mosquito count data to explain whether warmer weeks are associated with more mosquitoes.
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Printable LS.1.d.ii Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to LS.1.d.ii, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- 6.1.d.ii
The 6th Grade version of this standard.
- 4.1.d.i
use evidence (i.e., measurements, observations, patterns) to construct or support explanations and to make inferences
- PS.1.d.i
The Grades 7–8 version of this standard.
- 3.1.d.i
use evidence (measurements, observations, patterns) to construct or support an explanation
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