Lesson+One-+Introduction+to+Scientific+Method

Dates: March 24, 29, and 31, 2011
 * Lesson Plan 1: Introduction to the Scientific Method **

**KUSD Standard:** //Science is based on questions. The job of a scientist is to construct ideas and explanations. Scientific knowledge may change when new things are learned. Science experiments will usually work the same way when repeated under similar conditions. Scientists make the results of their investigations public; they describe the investigations in ways that enable others to repeat the investigations. Scientists use different kinds of investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer.// //B-2.5//
 * Purpose:** Students will compose an example of the scientific method as a group on the white board using an example lab demonstrated by Miss Amy and Miss Brianna. Students will complete this task in 30 minutes with 75% accuracy expected.
 * Context:** Students will be exposed to a formal lab write-up for the first time today. Students have worked with experiments before but not using specifically the scientific method.


 * Planning Ahead:**
 * White board
 * Dry erase markers
 * Worksheet 1
 * Worksheet 2
 * Bubbles
 * Bubble wand
 * Paper towels
 * Fan
 * Pencils


 * Motivation:** By doing the bubble experiment (see development), students will be inspired to do well on their own projects. They will take pride in their work since they are doing it for themselves and presenting their experiment at a science fair in May.


 * Development:** Miss A and Miss B will go through the worksheet with the flow chart (wkst #1) with the students leaving one word blank from each of the positions on the chart to get the students to think about what the steps to the scientific method might be. We will then perform an experiment for the students to try and use the steps of the scientific method to complete. We are doing an experiment involving bubbles with the problem being “why do bubbles float.” We will let the students take it from there. For example: they will have to give Miss A. directions on how to blow a bubble. They need to say the full list of steps (ie: open the jar, pull out the bubble wand by the closed end, lift the bubble wand to your lips, blow a bubble; this is instead of the simple- blow a bubble) Miss A will literally play devil’s advocate to get the students to think about how specific an experiment may need to be to work. Students will record a preliminary lab report on the white board as a group.


 * Assessment:** This assessment grade will be based on participation. Students who participate will get full credit towards their final total of the project grade. Students who raise their hand at least once two times will ear full credit for the day; those that only raise their hand once will earn half credit and those do not participate will not earn any credit for participation.