Environmental Science and Level II Expanded · Scientific and Engineering Practices
Virginia SOL ENV.1
Virginia SOL ENV.1 is part of the Scientific and Engineering Practices strand in Environmental Science and Level II Expanded (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students demonstrate understanding of scientific and engineering practices through investigation, analysis, and communication. Below is what ENV.1 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice ENV.1 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL ENV.1 means
Demonstrate understanding of scientific and engineering practices through investigation, analysis, and communication.
Skills you’ll practice for ENV.1
- Ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, organisms, models, or theories to seek additional information.
- Determine which questions can be investigated within the scope of a school laboratory or field study.
- Formulate hypotheses specifying the relationship between independent and dependent variables.
- Generate hypotheses based on research and scientific principles.
- Define design problems involving the development of processes or systems with multiple components and criteria.
- Plan and conduct observational and experimental investigations; identify variables, constants, and controls.
- Plan and conduct investigations or test design solutions in a safe and ethical manner, considering environmental, social, and personal effects.
- Select and use appropriate tools and technology to collect and record data.
- Determine appropriate sample size and techniques for investigations.
- Construct and interpret data tables showing independent and dependent variables, repeated trials, and means.
- Construct, analyze, and interpret graphical displays of data; consider limitations of data analysis.
- Use data to build and revise models, support explanations for phenomena, or test solutions to problems.
- Apply mathematical concepts and processes to analyze data.
- Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine optimal design solutions.
- Construct and revise explanations based on valid and reliable evidence from models, theories, simulations, peer review, or investigations.
- Make quantitative and/or qualitative claims based on data.
- Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to provide explanations of phenomena and design solutions.
- Compare and evaluate competing arguments or design solutions in light of currently accepted explanations and new scientific evidence.
- Make and support a claim using empirical evidence and scientific reasoning.
- Evaluate a claim by applying scientific reasoning, theory, and/or models to link evidence to assess the extent to which reasoning and data support the explanation or conclusion.
- Differentiate among a scientific hypothesis, theory, and law.
- Evaluate the merits and limitations of models.
- Develop, revise, and/or use models based on evidence to illustrate or predict relationships, support explanations, predict phenomena, analyze systems, or solve problems.
- Compare, integrate, and evaluate sources of information presented in different media or formats to address a scientific question or solve a problem.
- Gather, read, and evaluate scientific and/or technical information from multiple authoritative sources, assessing the evidence and credibility of each source.
- Communicate scientific and/or technical information about phenomena and/or a design process in multiple formats.
Key concepts covered by ENV.1
- observation
- phenomena
- models
- theories
- inquiry
- investigation
- laboratory
- field study
- scope
- hypothesis
- independent variable
- dependent variable
- manipulation
- research
- scientific principles
- design problem
- process
- system
- criteria
- variables
- constants
- controls
- safety
- ethics
- environmental impact
- social impact
- data collection
- tools
- technology
- recording
- sample size
- sampling techniques
- data tables
- repeated trials
- means
- graphical displays
- data analysis
- limitations
- data
- explanations
- solutions
- mathematical concepts
- technologies
- scientific claims
- evidence
- peer review
- quantitative claims
- qualitative claims
- scientific ideas
- principles
- design solutions
- competing arguments
- scientific evidence
- claim
- empirical evidence
- scientific reasoning
- claim evaluation
- theory
- law
- scientific concepts
- merits
- relationships
- systems
- sources of information
- media
- formats
- scientific question
- scientific information
- authoritative sources
- credibility
- communication
- design process
How to study and practice SOL ENV.1
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether ENV.1 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
Frequently asked questions about SOL ENV.1
What is Virginia SOL ENV.1?
SOL ENV.1 is a Environmental Science and Level II Expanded Standard of Learning in the Scientific and Engineering Practices strand. It expects students to demonstrate understanding of scientific and engineering practices through investigation, analysis, and communication.
What skills does SOL ENV.1 cover?
SOL ENV.1 is assessed on 26 skills: ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, organisms, models, or theories to seek additional information; determine which questions can be investigated within the scope of a school laboratory or field study; formulate hypotheses specifying the relationship between independent and dependent variables; generate hypotheses based on research and scientific principles; define design problems involving the development of processes or systems with multiple components and criteria; plan and conduct observational and experimental investigations; identify variables, constants, and controls; plan and conduct investigations or test design solutions in a safe and ethical manner, considering environmental, social, and personal effects; select and use appropriate tools and technology to collect and record data; determine appropriate sample size and techniques for investigations; construct and interpret data tables showing independent and dependent variables, repeated trials, and means; construct, analyze, and interpret graphical displays of data; consider limitations of data analysis; use data to build and revise models, support explanations for phenomena, or test solutions to problems; apply mathematical concepts and processes to analyze data; analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine optimal design solutions; construct and revise explanations based on valid and reliable evidence from models, theories, simulations, peer review, or investigations; make quantitative and/or qualitative claims based on data; apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence to provide explanations of phenomena and design solutions; compare and evaluate competing arguments or design solutions in light of currently accepted explanations and new scientific evidence; make and support a claim using empirical evidence and scientific reasoning; evaluate a claim by applying scientific reasoning, theory, and/or models to link evidence to assess the extent to which reasoning and data support the explanation or conclusion; differentiate among a scientific hypothesis, theory, and law; evaluate the merits and limitations of models; develop, revise, and/or use models based on evidence to illustrate or predict relationships, support explanations, predict phenomena, analyze systems, or solve problems; compare, integrate, and evaluate sources of information presented in different media or formats to address a scientific question or solve a problem; gather, read, and evaluate scientific and/or technical information from multiple authoritative sources, assessing the evidence and credibility of each source; communicate scientific and/or technical information about phenomena and/or a design process in multiple formats.
What strand of Environmental Science and Level II Expanded is SOL ENV.1 in?
SOL ENV.1 belongs to the Scientific and Engineering Practices reporting strand of the Environmental Science and Level II Expanded Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL ENV.1?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether ENV.1 is already solid, then work the 26 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.