Scientific Method

Page history last edited by Bill 3 months ago

Scientific Method

In the sixth grade, students begin to study the key elements of the scientific method. They learn to develop interesting questions that can be tested, to write hypotheses that outline early predictions and intuitions, to collect data in an efficient way that promotes communication with others, to recognize the impact that variables can have on experiments and to draw conclusions that are based on observations.

Throughout this unit, teachers will give students opportunities to develop and to complete small experiments. Creative thinking will be emphasized as procedures and processes are introduced. Below, you will find unit overview sheets, a common assessment that is given by all teachers, samples of student work, and materials for possible lessons to support this unit of instruction.

Scientific Method

I Can Statements

ScientificMethod_ICan_Statements.doc

This document includes a list of the objectives that students will be expected to master in their study of the scientific method. It can be used as a checklist by teachers to guide their instruction and as a tracking sheet for parents and students to monitor progress towards mastery.

Common Assessments

Assessment_ScientificMethod.doc

This document includes the common assessment that will be given to students at the end of our unit on the scientific method. It was reviewed and developed by Monica Kennedy in July of 2010.

Hypothesis and Conclusions Quiz

Quiz_HypothesisConclusions.docx

This quiz can be used to gather quick formative and/or summative feedback about the level of understanding that students have about the quality of hypotheses and conclusions written for science labs.

Exemplars

Hypothesis Exemplars

Exemplars_StudentHypothesis.docx

The document embedded above includes exemplars of student hypotheses writing from each of the levels of the rubric that is used to grade student lab work. Teachers, parents and students can both use these exemplars to gain a better understanding of what quality hypotheses need to "look like."

Conclusion Exemplars

Exemplars_StudentConclusions.docx

The document embedded above includes exemplars of student conclusion writing from each of the levels of the rubric that is used to grade student lab work. Teachers, parents and students can both use these exemplars to gain a better understanding of what quality hypotheses need to "look like."

Graphing Exemplar

Science_GraphingExemplar.pdf

This document includes an exemplar of a student graph that is at the Mastering/Excelling level of performance. The first page of the document includes a description of the strengths and weaknesses of the student graph. The second page of the document includes the student's graph.

Potential Lessons

Lab Overview Sheet

Handout_LabReportOverview.doc

This document is designed to guide students step-by-step through the steps of the scientific method. It can be used as a required handout for every lab or as a template that students follow only, filling out responses on a separate piece of notebook paper.

Spaghetti Tower Mini Lab

Handout_SpaghettiTowerChallenge.doc

This handout includes student directions for a mini-lab that can be used at the beginning of the year to introduce the scientific method. It requires students to build a tower that can hold up a marshmallow from spaghetti.

Rating Hypotheses and Conclusions

Handout_HypothesisRatings.docx

Handout_ConclusionRatings.docx

Bill Ferriter has noticed that even with support, students struggle to write reasonable hypotheses and sets of conclusions. These two handouts are designed to address those weaknesses. They ask students to look at four different samples and to rate them in order from beginning to excelling. They can be partnered nicely with the rubric that we use to grade hypotheses and conclusions.

Graph Graph Sheet

Graph Paper Blank.doc

The spacing of the graph allows students to have room so that they don't bunch all of their data together.

Rubric for Graphs and Tables

Rubric, Graphs and Tables.doc

This is a rubric that people can use when they're scoring graphs and tables created by students.

Basic Scientific Investigation Terms

Scientific Investigation Terms Quiz.docx

Very basic multiple choice quiz to review vocabulary

Save Fred

Save Fred ebook.pdf

Save Fred.pptx

Save Fred Sheet.docx

Great early lab to get students thinking and using problem solving skills.

Mythbusters Viewing Guide

Handout_MythbustersAnalysis.doc

The popular Discovery series Mythbusters is a great tool for teaching students about the scientific method simply because each episode involves two quirky scientists asking and answering questions through scientific experimentation. This viewing guide can be used to focus student thinking around the scientific method while watching any episode. It makes for a solid sub plan. Full episodes are available on United Streaming. Also, Bill Ferriter has a season on DVD that you can borrow as well.