A Cool Controversy

As society becomes more technological, the need for scientific literacy grows . Part of scientific literacy is understanding the nature of science, which can be revealed, in part, by learning the historical context of current science concepts. History of science can be taught using scientific inquiry, scientific argumentation, and authentic experience through a variety of methods, including case studies, role playing, debating historic science controversies, and reconstructing significant iconic experiments (such as electrolysis of water, calculating the circumference of the Earth, or constructing a Voltaic battery). This article describes a lesson--Glaciers: As Cold as Ice--that aligns with the "Next Generation Science Standards" and uses the 5E instructional model.