Being Scientific Science to Technology

Title: From Hypothesis to experiment

Author: Cota

Subject: Biology

Grade: 6

Week: Oct. 14-24

Unit/Lesson Plan #: Chapter 3 lesson 1

Unit theme: Learning about hypothesis and experimentation

Textbook references:

Pages 33-34

Learning objectives:

Design an experiment to test a hypothesis.

Perform an experiment according to a suggested format.

Key Questions, Concepts, or Themes:

Evidence, models, and explanation

Ablilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

Understandings about scientific inquiry

Nature of science

Stage 1:

Getting Started, ATE p. 40. Present students with three beakers—one filled with 50 mL of white vinegar, one with 50 mL of water, and one with 50 mL of salt water. Tell students that the beakers contain three different substances. Have students discuss different ways they might test the substances to find out what each one is. Remind students that touching and tasting unknown substances are not safe laboratory procedures. Record their comments on the chalkboard, and help students form hypotheses from their suggestions. Explain that in this lesson, they will have a chance to test different hypotheses through experiments.

Stage 2:

Discussion, p. 40. Ask students to read the opening paragraphs of this lesson. After they have finished reading, ask: What possible hypothesis might the students have come up with that they could test?

Stage 3:

Investigating Paper Falling Through Air, p. 41. This reading presents an actual experimental design so that students can observe how a hypothesis, a plan, a data table, a graph, and conclusions are used. Students should use this as a model to follow when designing their own experiments. This lesson is set up as a discussion task. Ask students to discuss the hypothesis, the experimental plan (including variables tested, variables controlled, and measurements made), the results, and the conclusions. Teaching Transparency 6 is available to accompany Investigating Paper Falling Through Air.

Guided Practice, p. 41. Ask students: What are the measurements that the students must make?

Homework: No homework in this class?

Homework, ATE p. 41. You may wish to assign Investigating Paper Falling Through Air 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: ____________________________________