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Unit 1: Introduction to Scientific Methods Lesson 3: Introduction to Observing Objectives:
After completing the lesson, students will be able to: Key Question: "How do scientists objectively describe the world around them?" Overview: Lesson 3 begins an 11 lesson sequence designed to familiarize students with the various aspects of doing science (see "Emphasis of Explicit Instruction in Dry Ice Investigations," located at the end of the Lesson 3 materials, for a concept chart of the 11 lessons that comprise the "Dry Ice" GEMS guide). This is the first of three lessons designed to introduce the student to what is meant by the "Scientist's Mindset." In this lesson, students play a game where they pretend they are aliens, and must describe two everyday objects in the classroom, using only objective descriptions. No inferences as to what an object is used for are allowed. The main point of the lesson is to teach students how to make objective observations. Time Required: 45 minutes (1 class session). Materials: Procedure: see pp. 20-25 Dry Ice Investigations: Teacher's Guide. Assessments: Homework: OUSD Science Content Standards (State of California Science Content Standards): This lesson provides the foundation for the teaching of standard #1 (State Standard #7). References: Inquiry Skills Activity Book. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2001, pp. 8-11. Notes: It is important to allow students enough time to read and discuss their descriptions to the class. This allows for a meaningful discussion of the difference between an observation and an inference through the context of student generated examples. Unit 1 Introduction amnd Overview Lesson 1: Laboratory Safety and Classroom Management Lesson 2: Observation and Inference Lesson 3: Introduction to Observation Lesson 4: Comparing H2O to CO2 Lesson 7: Marge's Systematic Observation Lesson 10: Investigable Questions Lesson 11: Planning an Investigation Lesson 12: Conducting Investigations Lesson 15: Layering Salt Solutions Lesson 16: Density in Everyday Life Lesson 17: Observing Convection Lesson 18: Understanding Convection Lesson 20: Intro to Measurement |
