TEC Lesson Plan

Contributor information:

Name: Tempest Booth-Bickford
email address: Tbooth3463@aol.com
School: Southside Fundamental Middle School

Lesson Title:

The Building Blocks of Science Research

Standards
To see all Sunshine State Standards, click here.

Sunshine State Standards for this unit:
Strand H: The Nature of Science

Standard 1: The student uses the scientific processes and habits of the mind to solve problems.
SC.H.1.3.4 Knows that accurate record keeping, openness, and replication are essential to maintaining an investigators credibility with other scientists and society.

Goal 3 Standards

Standard 1: Information Managers: Florida students locate, comprehend, interpret, evaluate, maintain, and apply information, concepts, and ideas found in literature, the arts, symbols, recordings, video and other graphic displays, and computer files in order to perform tasks and /or for enjoyment.

Standard 5: Responsible Workers: Florida students display responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity, honesty, and healthy decision-making.

Standard 8: Cooperative Workers: Florida students work cooperatively to successfully complete a project or activity.

Standard 9: Effective Leaders: Florida students establish credibility with their colleagues through competence and integrity, and help their peers achieve their goals by communicating their feelings and ideas to justify or successfully negotiate a position which advances goal attainment.

National Educational Technology Standards can be found here.

NET Standards for this unit:
Strand: Technology

Standard 3: T.3.3.4
Technology productivity tools

Benchmark: Use content-specific tools, software, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research.

Standard 3: T.3.3.5
Technology productivity tools

Benchmark: Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum.

Standard 5: T.5.3.4
Technology research tools

Benchmark: Use content -specific tools software, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research.

Technology resource requirements:

• Computer with Internet access
• Internet software
• integrated software program (i.e.,Office 98 or AppleWorks)
• HYPERSTUDIO
  
• POWERPOINT
  
• Printer
  
• Sherlock Search (Mac operating system 8.0)
  
• computer paper for printing required worksheets and assessment instruments
  
• Big screen TV
  
• Presentation Unit or projection panel for HYPERSTUDIO and POWERPOINT presentations
  

Subject area(s): science,technology

Grade level: 7-8

Description:

• Students will identify the basic attributes of an experiment
• Students will determine if a sample experiment is a controlled experiment.
• Students will prepare a POWERPOINT or HYPERSTUDIO presentation illustrating a controlled and an uncontrolled experiment.
• The students will search the Internet for ideas on science fair projects by accessing specific web sites or web sites of choice.
• The students will brainstorm ideas for science fair projects in designated groups.
• The student groups will discuss and refine individual project ideas.
• The students will submit a science fair proposal.
• The students will use the Internet in preparing a literature review consisting of a minimum of five bibliographical references(these five do not include reference books or online or off line reference materials such as encyclopedias, almanacs, dictionaries, etc
• .Students will design, research, produce and present an independent science research project (including a research report, log book, display board, and oral presentation).
• The students will be required to participate in the school science fair and the county science fair if selected.

Interactions:

• cooperative learning strategies
  
• decision making strategies
  
• problem solving strategies
  

Activity sheets and assessments:

• Attributes of an Experiment with worksheet.
  
• RUBRIC for POWERPOINT or HYPERSTUDIO Presentations.
  
• Web site activity
  
• Steps in selecting and preparing a science fair project with activity sheet.
  
• Project Refinement Sheet.
  
• Final science fair project proposal
  
• Rubric for Independent Research Project.

Lesson Plan: Part I

Approximate time required: Steps 1-6 ( approx. 2 weeks)

Begin lesson immediately when school starts.
Describe the procedure for conducting the aforementioned activities:

Step 1. The students will be placed into groups of three.

The HOOK:

Step 2. The students will view the POWERPOINT Presentation, Attributes of an Experiment.

Step 3. The students will view the POWERPOINT Presentation, How to Prepare a Science Fair Project.

Step 4. The students will SELECT, Attributes of an Experiment and Attributes of an Experiment Worksheet. The students will each print a copy of the text material and the accompanying worksheet. The students will work in groups to read the text and complete the activities.

Step 5. The student groups will write one valid sample experiment and one invalid experiment. The groups will prepare a POWERPOINT or HYPERSTUDIO presentation illustrating the aforementioned valid and invalid sample experiment. The presentation will be given to the class.

Step 6. The students will be assessed on their presentation by using the RUBRIC for POWERPOINT or HYPERSTUDIO Presentations.

Lesson Plan: Part II
Approximate time required (14 weeks)

Step 7. The students will access the following web sites to research and help determine their independent research project. Each student will search a minimum of three web sites listed below. The students will list the URL address and write what they discovered at each web site including one science fair project idea. Each student will submit an individual assignment.
SELECT Web site activity

Web sites:

http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/steps.html

http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral

http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/cf/SciProjIntro.html

http://www.setmms.tusd.k12.az.us/~jtindell

http://atlas.ksc.nasa.gov/education/general/scifair.html

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/fair.html

http://www.scifair.org/

http://www.eduzone.com/tips/science/kit2.htm

Step 8. The students will SELECT Steps in selecting and preparing a science fair project with activity sheet. Print out the text pages including Activities A and B. Each student must complete and submit Activities A and B .

Step 9. Each student will discuss one research project idea with the group. The group will collectively help each group member refine the final project idea. SELECT Project Refinement Sheet. Make a copy for each group member. Each student will collaborate with their group and submit a Project Refinement Sheet.

Step 10. Each student will submit a Final Science Fair Project Proposal. SELECT Final Science Fair Project Proposal. Complete the proposal and submit to teacher

Step 11. The students will conduct research for a literature review using the Sherlock search or other search engines. SELECT Review of literature to view additional requirements and additional information.

Step 12. The students will prepare a research report showing the design and results of the completed research project. SELECT Essential Elements of a Research Report to view requirements and additional information.

Step 13. The students will keep a log book of all raw data and pertinent information regarding the development of the project. All entries must be dated, entered chronologically, and handwritten. The logbook also contains reflections on the research experience including observations and new questions or ideas that have emerged as a result of the research. Data tables of raw data will be entered in the log book. The research results and conclusions will be taken from the data entered in the log book. SELECT Logbook to view requirements and additional information.

Step 14. The students will prepare a display board showing the independent research project. The display board will meet science fair guidelines. SELECT Display board to view additional requirements.

Step 15. The students will prepare an oral presentation and defense of the independent research project. SELECT Oral Presentation criteria for additional requirements.

Step 16. The project will be assessed using the Assessment: Rubric for Independent Research Project. SELECT Assessment: Rubric for Independent Research Project to view assessment criteria for each component of the science fair project.