From Science and Technology 1.4

Title:From hypothesis to Experimentation

Author: Cota

Subject: Biology

Grade: 6

Week: Oct. 15-24

Unit/Lesson Plan #: Ch. 3, lesson 1

Unit theme:

Guides students through the process of experimentation and discusses the nature of technology

Textbook references:

Learning objectives:

1. Design an experiment to test a hypothesis.

2. 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:

Reteaching, ATE p. 46. Have students set up experiments to test other variables that affect paper falling through air, such as the type of paper or the temperature of the air.

Assessment, ATE p. 46. Share the following story with your students: A boy picks up a rock and sees several sow bugs scurry away under some dead leaves and other stones. He wonders if the sow bugs sense the light and always go toward darkness or if they sense the dryness of the air and always go toward moisture. Ask: How could he test these hypotheses?

Stage 2:

Extension, ATE p. 46. This would be an opportune time to discuss possible projects for a science fair. Encourage a project that includes a controlled experiment and follows the format used in this lesson for setting up an experiment. Students should not just write a report or make a collection.

Stage 3:

Closure, ATE p. 46. Tell the class that a scientist is investigating whether human beings can fly by themselves. Have the class list the variables the scientist will have to control. Then have students suggest possible experiments that this scientist might conduct.

Image and Activity Bank 3-1

Physical Science Concept Mapping Transparency 1 This transparency covers the world of physical science.

Discrepancy Event Worksheet, p. 33. This worksheet is available as a teacher demonstration to acquaint students with the scientific method.

SourceBook, pp. S12-S20. This worksheet gives an in-depth explanation of the scientific method.

Science Skills Worksheet, p. 31. This worksheet focuses on working with hypotheses by identifying good hypotheses.

Science Skills Worksheet, p. 33. This worksheet focuses on designing an experiment that is sure to test a specific hypothesis.

Science Skills Worksheet, p. 66. This worksheet focuses on interpreting data and identifying hidden patterns.

Homework: No homework in this class?

Graphing Practice Worksheet, p. 39. This worksheet provides a graph that compares the number of turns of a rubber band to the time the airplane is in the air. Students then answer questions about the graph

Assessments: (attach/link copies)

__ Group assessment

__ Observation of process/student work

__ Self-assessment by student

__ Teacher generated assignment

__ Written project

__ Test/Quiz

__ Other: ____________________________________