Science Exploration | Hero Elementary™ Camp | WQED

PA STEELS Standards (Pre‑K–5)

🧪 Scientific & Engineering Practices (SEPs)

SEP1 – Asking Questions & Defining Problems

• Students ask questions about materials, forces, or phenomena in the activity.
• Identify the problem they are trying to solve (e.g., how something works, moves, or changes).

SEP2 – Developing & Using Models

• Use drawings, simple models, or hands‑on materials to represent ideas.
• Build simple prototypes to test predictions.

SEP3 – Planning & Carrying Out Investigations

• Explore materials, test ideas, and observe what happens.
• Follow simple investigation steps (predict → test → observe).

SEP4 – Analyzing & Interpreting Data

• Compare results, sort observations, and look for patterns.
• Use simple charts or categories to organize findings.

SEP6 – Constructing Explanations & Designing Solutions

• Explain why something happened based on observations.
• Propose solutions to simple problems using evidence.

SEP7 – Engaging in Argument from Evidence

• Share ideas and support them with what they observed.
• Compare explanations with peers.

SEP8 – Obtaining, Evaluating & Communicating Information

• Communicate findings through drawings, models, or discussion.

🔬 Core Ideas (Pre‑K–5)

These vary by grade band but align well with the Hero Elementary exploration themes.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE (PS)

PS1: Matter & Its Interactions

• Explore properties of materials (rigid, flexible, absorbent, strong).
• Observe how materials behave when pushed, pulled, heated, or combined.

PS2: Motion & Stability

• Investigate pushes and pulls.
• Explore how force affects motion (speed, direction).

🔧 ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY & APPLICATIONS OF SCIENCE (ETS)

ETS1.A – Defining Engineering Problems

• Identify a problem and describe what a solution must do.

ETS1.B – Developing Possible Solutions

• Brainstorm, build, and test simple solutions.

ETS1.C – Optimizing the Design Solution

• Improve a design based on test results.