Title :

GRADE LEVEL :
SUBJECT :
SBBC COURSE
CONNECTION :
Creator :
DESCRIPTION /
ABSTRACT OF
LESSON :

08 PHYSICAL 01.03-1 Scientific Investigations

08
SCIENCE - Middle
M/J PHYSICAL SCIENCE (2003010),M/J PHYSICAL SCIENCE ADV (2003020)
Development Team Middle School Science

Select from the materials and activities presented here to build a lesson on types of
scientific investigations that will assist students to differentiate between laboratory
experiments and field investigations. The time will depend on the activities, strategies,
and reinforcement activities selected.

OBJECTIVE(S) :

TEACHER
MATERIALS /
TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTIONS :

Differentiate between experiments and other scientific investigations.

Describe what an experiment is.

Describe the relative benefits and limitations of experiments and other types
of scientific investigations.

Teacher Materials:
Teacher Edition, Unit 1, Lesson 3
Teacher Background, Unit 1, Lesson 3
Overview of 5E Lesson Design
Common Misconception
Digital Path
Virtual Lab
Lab Manual
Assessment Guide

STUDENT
MATERIALS /
TECHNOLOGY
CONNECTIONS :

Student Materials:
Student Edition, Unit 1, Lesson 1
Labs and Demo

Duration :

110 Minutes

ESSENTIAL QUESTION
/ KEY VOCABULARY :
Essential Question: How do scientists work?
Key Vocabulary: experiment, observation, hypothesis, variable, data

LESSON LEAD IN /
OPENING :

ELICIT
OPTIONS:
Opening Your Lesson (10 minutes)
Begin the lesson by assessing students' prerequisite and prior knowledge.
Prerequisite Knowledge

Definition of science

Types of scientific explanations

Teacher Background
Accessing Prior Knowledge
Ask: Why might scientists want to study the particles inside atoms? Sample answer: to
learn what particles make up atoms; to understand why atoms behave as they do
Ask: What do scientists do? Sample answers: gather evidence to understand how the
natural world works.
Engage Your Brain (10 minutes)
Student Edition
Teacher Edition
ENGAGE
OPTIONS:
Activities and Discussion

Discussion Lab or Field? (10 minutes)

Take It Home Observing a Local Environment

Student Worksheet
EXPLORE
OPTIONS:
Labs and Demos

STEPS TO DELIVER

Daily Demo Identifying Variables (25 minutes)

Quick Lab How Machines Help (25 minutes)

EXPLAIN

LESSON :

OPTIONS:
Science Concepts
Scientists at Work!, SE, pp. 26-27

Active Reading, #5, #7

Visualize It!, #6

Why Ask Why?, SE, pp. 28-29

Think Outside the Book, #8

Identify, #9

Learning Alert Misconception

Probing Questions Analyze
Lab Tootsie Pop: Asking Questions
Digital Lesson

DIFFERENTIATED
INSTRUCTION :

ELABORATE
OPTIONS:
Differentiated Instruction
Basic Making Observations
Conducting a Scientific Investigation (time varies)
Concept Map Have students make a concept map with the word Observations in the
center. Have them surround the center with five circles with the names of the senses.
Then have students expand the map by adding phrases that describe the observations
made using each sense. For example, one entry from taste might be "tastes very sour."
See "Tootsie Pop Observation" at Science Class
Advanced History of Scientific Investigation
Type of Scientific Investigation (time varies)
students research the history of scientific investigation. Suggest that different groups
research either a different invention or a different scientist. Then have all groups
combine their information into a History of Science Timeline. Display the timeline and
add to it as new information becomes available throughout the course.
See "A Journey Through Time" at The Science Spot
ELL Senses and Observations
Types of Scientific Investigations (20 minutes)
Description Wheel Struggling or ELL readers may have difficulty recalling that
observations involve more than what they can see. To help students remember that
observations involve all senses, have them make a in which observations is the central
word, and the names of the senses make up the spokes of the wheel. Encourage
students to add to their wheels by including illustrations that depict each of the senses
or providing a description of an observation that involves each sense.
ESE Resources
Teaching Resources for Florida ESE
ESE Accommodations Poster

ESOL Strategy B6 Use of Cognates

ESOL Strategy C3 Flow Charts
ESOL Strategy C12 Timelines

LESSON CLOSURE :

EXTEND
OPTIONS:
Extend Science Concepts
Real World Connection Tools of the Trade
(30 minutes) Scientists use a variety of tools and Instruments to make their
observations and data more accurate. For example, a scientist may use a metric ruler
or a graduated cylinder to accurately measure length or volume. A scientist may also
use a hand lens or microscope to magnify an object in order to see details more
clearly. Have students work in small groups to identify examples of tools and
Instruments people use in everyday life to either enhance their observation skills or
Improve the accuracy of their measurements. Have groups to make posters to
illustrate their ideas.
Activity True or False (20 minutes)
Card Response After completing the lesson, direct students to label an index card
with True on one side and False on the other side. Read aloud to students short
statements that can be labeled as true or false For each statement, have students
display the side of their card that they think is appropriate. After posing a number of
statements, encourage student volunteers to make statements for their classmates to
label.

ASSESSMENT :

EVALUATE
OPTIONS:
Evaluate Student Mastery
Formative Assessment
Strategies
Lesson Review
Summative Assessment
Alternative Assessment Think Like a Scientist
Florida Benchmark Review

FLORIDA SUNSHINE
STATE STANDARDS
and ISTE/NETS
STANDARDS:
Florida Sunshine State FL Science Standard (2008)

Grade 8

Florida Sunshine State Standards

Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science

Benchmark SC.8.N.1.5 Analyze the methods used to develop a

scientific explanation as seen in different fields of science.

Benchmark SC.8.N.1.6 Understand that scientific investigations

involve the collection of relevant empirical evidence, the use of
logical reasoning, and the application of imagination in devising
hypotheses, predictions, explanations and models to make sense of
the collected evidence.

Big Idea 2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge

Benchmark SC.8.N.2.2 Discuss what characterizes science and its

methods.
Broward ESOL
Strategies (2007):

Broward DISTRICT Broward K-12 ESOL Instructional Strategies (2007)

B. Vocabulary

B6 Use of Cognates

C. Visuals & Graphic Organizers

C3 Flow Charts*

C12 Timelines*
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August 11, 2011
September 23, 2011