Math and Science Misconceptions

Pluto is a planet.That the moon changes from night to night

instead of the position of the Earth making it appear different. How moon phases work

The moon illuminates light.The earth is the center of the solar system.More than one star in our solar systemThe planets are straight in a row from the

sun and not that the sun is in the middle with the planets surrounding it.

Planets are in a straight line.

Science

Planets are in a straight line.The moon produces its own light.There are many stars in our solar system.The moon produces its own lightPlanets are lined up.The moon “rises” comes up and goes down.There are many stars in our solar system.Kids think the earth rotates around the moon.The sun is on the left and planets on the right

instead of the sun in the middle. This makes it hard for them to understand that the sun does not rotate. Posters and pictures causer this misconception.

Science

Belief that rivers only flow from north to southYou will always get shocked if you touch an

electric line.The light that we see in the sky is actually

scattered light waves. Your eye perceives blue most of all.

In science, when speaking of man made vs. natural environment, a tree is manmade because people plant some trees.

Habitats - They need a better understanding about how life is connected.

Science

Where does the water go when wet clothes are drying on the line outside?

If a sealed container of ice is on the table and left for a few hours, where does the water come from?

DensityLaw of conservation of Energy- Students

have a misconception of where energy goes.

Mass/Weight

Science

Bottled water is better than tap water.Weight effects the rate at which objects

fall.When we begin discussing living vs. non-

living, students believe if you are not a human or animal, you are non-living.

All new technology is good.

Science

ScienceThe equations they learn in math they will use

again in science. (Ex. Volume)How math is integrated into science.Science is not as important as reading/language.They don’t think that the subjects overlapStudents think there is only one right answer.Students don’t understand how other subjects

relate to science.Science is boringScience is unrelated to math or anything.

Science

MathThat if they wait long enough I will give them the

answers.Words Problems are only to be answered by the

teacher.That the answer is the most important part of the

problem. Rather than the process of getting to the answer.

Boys are better at math than girls.Kids think knowing their multiplication facts aren’t

important, because they don’t relate to other things.Students think that math learned in math class doesn’t

apply to science or vise versa. They have a difficult time of applying what they have learned in one subject to another.

MathStudents don’t think they have to read and

comprehend in math.There is no reading and writing in math.You don’t have to read to do math.That what you learn in math only applies

when in a math class. D=R*tYou can use letters in equations.Math deal with only numbersThere is a shape called a diamond.Could do cross multiplication and multiply

denominators than simplify.

MathMultiplication is repeated additionIf you are not adding, sub, mult, or dividing,

then you are not really doing math.It is not important to follow the order of

operations.When dividing, the number gets smaller and

when multiplying the number gets bigger.If you multiply a number the answer will

always be larger.

Math Fraction 1/10 is bigger than ½ The larger the fraction denominator, the larger the

fraction. You add top and bottom of fractions. Fractions are part of

a whole. Fractions Mult. Repeated addition negative numbers age. You can compare fractions just by looking at how close the

denominator is to the numerator. The fractions are larger because the number is larger. You can only find the like denominators in fraction by find

LCD. Fraction on the bottom is bigger then that fraction is

bigger. Bigger denominator = Bigger piece

MathAlways subtract the smaller from the

larger. 403-5=2 ( they don’t borrow)Larger is not always bigger. 0.01 to 0.0009When subtracting negative number they

think numbers get smaller.Numbers cannot be less than 1.They need to better understand numbers

and values. Why you borrow 1 and it becomes a 10.

“Bigger” always means more.

Math

Math and Science

Math and Science Misconceptions