Testing Ideas 1.1

Title: Testing Ideas

Author: Cota

Week: Oct.23, 2007

Unit/Lesson Plan #: Chapter 2, lesson 4

Unit theme:

Scientific thinking, observing, inferring, and hypothesizing 

Textbook references:

Learning objectives:

1. Write a hypothesis that can be investigated.

2. Identify the cause and effect in a hypothesis.

3. Identify the variables that must be controlled in order to conduct a fair test (controlled experiment).

Key Questions, Concepts, or Themes:

Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

Understandings about scientific inquiry

Nature of science

Stage 1:

ATE p. 33. Tell students you are going to perform a scientific test. Select two different brands of paper towel. Use a whole sheet of the first brand to absorb 100 mL of water from a bowl. Use half of a sheet of the second brand to absorb 100  mL of corn oil or syrup from another bowl. Show students the results. Tell them that you conclude that the first brand of paper towel is more absorbent. Ask students if they agree with you. Guide the class in a discussion of why the test was unfair and how they might improve it.

Stage 2:

A Tale of Two Kittens, p. 33. This story is about two students who are being scientific by designing an experiment to prove a point. It provides an excellent opportunity to look again at the nature of science and to introduce the concepts of controlled experiments, hypotheses, and variables.

Stage 3:

The Moral of the Tale, p. 34. Allow time for students to answer the questions. Discuss as a class.

 Hypothesis-A Special Kind of Prediction, p. 35. After discussing the task that Mr. Kumar gave to his class, students should be able to identify the cause and effect in Elizabeth’s hypothesis. It may be helpful to point out that a hypothesis is not the same thing as a fact; a hypothesis is a statement that must be tested.

Homework: (attach/link digital resources):

Homework, ATE p. 34. You may wish to have students complete questions 1-4 of The Moral of the Tale as homework. 

Assessments: (attach/link copies)

__ Group assessment

__ Observation of process/student work

__ Self-assessment by student

__ Teacher generated assignment

__ Written project

__ Test/Quiz

__ Other: ____________________________________