Parts of an Experiment and Starting Experiments!

We are starting to learn about the essential parts of an experiment.  In conjunction with identifying the parts the students are designing and engineering two different ongoing experiments.  Both of these experiments will lead into our study of ecology, trophic levels, and decomposition.

One is a bottle composting device seen here in the pictures.

The other is a mold garden where students are designing an experiment to observe mold growth over time.  Here is one example where the student asked, "Will a damp paper towel increase the mold growth on a slice of bread over time?"

Possible Presentation Platforms for Greatest Scientific Discovery

Prezi for Education - Click here to access

Go to "Get Started"

 Be sure to choose the Student and Teacher Selection on the side.

Then choose the Free Edu Enjoy Plan seen below.

Google Slide - Go to Drive under Google Apps and Select "New" 

Keynote- Need to have Apple ID and Downloaded the new software.

Parts of an Experiment

In the next week we will  look at the structure and specific parts found in experiments.  Students will need to identify the different parts given a experimental scenario.  

Experimental Vocabulary:

• question
• hypothesis
• procedure
• variables: independent and dependent
• constant
• control
• conclusion
• observations

Notes on Parts of an Experiment:
Click here to access

Life Saver Article - read in class.

Click here to access

Control and Variables Reading Worksheet

Click here to access

Bill's Cake - experimental scenario.

Click here to access

Greatest Scientific Discovery

The Greatest Scientific Discovery information can be found here on our shared Google Site. - Click to Access.

We started the class by reading Snowflake Bentley or Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas making connection of what is "good science" and their contributions to the world.  Students will have the task to choose a great invention or discovery and persuade us why it is the "Greatest Scientific Discovery" of all time. 

ENGAGE and EXPLORE - SEWER LICE INVESTIGATION

Sewer Lice!?!? - A biologists from USM recently discovered a new life form at the mouth of the Royal River. The zoologists at the university are still working on the DNA analysis to determine if it is a new species or a mutation of one of the aquatic insects found further upstream.  

FACT or FICTION?

Students today were immersed in an activity where they were trying to find the answer to two different focus questions:

• How could you identify and describe the oraganism in front of you?
• How can you describe the movement inside the container?

After they wondered about what was presented to them they got to explore with many different materials and tried to figure out what might cause an object to have a buoyant force.

Interactive Science Notebook

Here are some resources for our new science notebooks***:

ISN Rubric

ISN Set-up Instructions

ISN Descriptor

ISN Template
***please note that these documents are modified to reflect the online ISN in Mr. Harrington's Science classes.

Here is a link to the Asteroids and Dinosaurs Article that is part of tonight's homework:
Asteroids and Dinosaurs
Here are some follow up questions:
Asteroids and Dinosaurs Follow-Up

Mystery Cube Activity

Today students were introduced to the mystery cube activity.  They needed to work together to solve the problem of "What does the bottom of the mystery cube look like?"

Through careful observations and analysis they started to come up with conclusions supported with evidence.  

They were supplied with a blank cube template incase they wanted to make a 3D model.  Click here to access the template.

Good luck and have fun!