BUILDING BEST PRACTICES THROUGH SCIENTIFIC DEBATE: AN APPROACH FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have offered a fresh perspective on scientific learning in the K-12 classroom. The standards emphasize science and engineering practices such as developing models, analyzing data, and engaging in argument from evidence. Here, we present a cumulative project that utilizes these practices to understand the simultaneous coevolution of Earth's systems and life on Earth. High school seniors research and present data, models, and scientific claims in the form of a class debate. The goal of this project is to move beyond the typical Earth science content and to help students grasp the nature of scientific inquiry.