Overview:
Kids love experiments in science. In this activity, students get the chance to create an experiment on events happening in the world!
Lesson: Science in the News
Standards: 4.1 Scientific investigation, reasoning and logic
a) distinctions are made among observations, conclusions, inferences and predictions
Target Grade: Grade 4
appropriate for grades 4-6
Process:
Kids love experiments in science. In this activity, students get the chance to create an experiment on events happening in the world!
Lesson: Science in the News
Standards: 4.1 Scientific investigation, reasoning and logic
a) distinctions are made among observations, conclusions, inferences and predictions
Target Grade: Grade 4
appropriate for grades 4-6
Process:
1. Students will have 15-20 minutes to explore the two websites below. After about 10 minutes, tell them to focus one one article about science they find interesting.
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/magazine
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/magazine
2. They will take notes about the article, describing what topic of science is described and how it is described
3. Using the scientific method sheet, they will begin to brainstorm ideas for an experiement that could be created (keeping in mind available resources for the experiement)to go along with the article's topic.
There is an appropriate overview of the scientific method for elementary students, created by Laura Candler (Her website is wonderful and worth checking out). Click on File Cabinet, Science, then scientific method to print the sheet.
www.lauracandler.com
4. Once the design process has begun, students will need support from their teacher to make sure the probelem, research and hypthesis support their article selection.
5. Students will complete the design of their experiment and post information on the class blog. Students will comment and give suggestions to improve the lab design.
6. Science Lab: Throughout the following weeks, experiments based on student work can be conducted in class. The blog will continue to be used to give feedback on what successful with the experiments as well as wat should be adjusted.
I think this is an awesome way to allow students to participate in constructive feedback and helping each other improve on experiment designs.
ReplyDeleteWhen we ask students to do this in class, they may feel shy about critiquing a peer's work. Sometimes that might be due to being put on the spot. While they may not be anonymous on the class blog, they can write and be reflective in their thinking.
Your lesson promotes many skills. What kinds of thinking skills does your lesson now have with the addition of blogs?
What software skills might they practice?