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Experimental Design

Experimental Design

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking and answering questions, making inferences, and selecting and using equipment or technology needed, to solve a specific problem in the natural world.


Essential Understanding

The student uses scientific inquiry methods during laboratory and outdoor investigations.

Science Background

The Scientific Method: Vision Learning (website) - This is a library of learning modules that provide interactive animations, glossary definitions, current news and research written by professional educators and scientists.

The Scientific Method
Vision Learning, www.visionlearning.com

Research Methods - Experimentation: Vision Learning (website) – This article explains the development of the scientific method throughout time exampled by a few famous experiments. 

Research Methods - Experimentation
Vision Learning, www.visionlearning.com

What is Inquiry Science Teaching? BioEd Online (video) – Nancy Moreno, PhD, explains how to use questions and investigations to guide your students' science learning.

What is Inquiry Science Teaching?
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Signature Lesson

Ball Bouncing Experiment: How To Smile (website) – Different types of balls are tested to see which one bounces the highest and for the longest period.  Click the green “Go to Activity” link to obtain the lesson plan.

Ball Bouncing Experiment
How To Smile, www.howtosmile.org

Supporting Lessons

Rippin’ Rockets: How to Smile (website) – In this activity, students observe several different variations of an inflated balloon’s flight.  Using this information, they then design a balloon to control the direction and pattern of its flight.  Click the green “Go to Activity” link to obtain the lesson plan.

Rippin’ Rockets
How to Smile, www.howtosmile.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Soda Brand vs. Height Experiment: How To Smile (website) – Using Mentos candy, students test to see if different brands of soda change the erupting gases that result from dropping the candy into the soda bottle.  Click the green “Go to Activity” link to obtain the lesson plan.

Soda Brand vs. Height Experiment
How To Smile, www.howtosmile.org

Assessment Ideas

Rubric for Experimental Design: Beacon Learning Center (PDF) – Students can use this rubric to self-assess their projects/ experiments or the teacher can use it summatively.

Rubric for Experimental Design
Beacon Learning Center, www.beaconlearningcenter.com

Literature Connections

How to Build a Better Mousetrap Car and Other Experimental Science Fun. Renner, A., (ISBN-13: 978-0396074199)

What’s the Plan? Designing Your Experiment. Hyde, Natalie. (ISBN-13: 978-0778751540)

Solving Science Questions: A Book About the Scientific Process. Chappell, Rachel M. (ISBN-13: 978-1600445422)

Prize-Winning Science Fair Projects for Curious Kids.  Rhatigan, J.  (ISBN-13: 978-1579907501)

Related Science TEKS

(3.1A) Science Safety

The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including observing a schoolyard habitat.

(3.1B) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources by recycling or reusing materials such as paper, aluminum cans, and plastics.

(3.2A) Plan and Implement Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking and answering questions, making inferences, and selecting and using equipment or technology needed, to solve a specific problem in the natural world.

(3.2B) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data by observing and measuring using the metric system and recognize differences between observed and measured data.

(3.2C) Graphs, Tables, Charts
The student is expected to construct maps, graphic organizers, simple tables, charts, and bar graphs using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate measured data.

(3.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain
The student is expected to analyze and interpret patterns in data to construct reasonable explanations based on evidence from investigations.

(3.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments
The student is expected to demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results.

(3.2F) Communicate Conclusions
The student is expected to communicate valid conclusions supported by data in writing, by drawing pictures, and through verbal discussion.

(3.4A) Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Information
The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, sound recorders, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(3.4B) Safety Equipment
The student is expected to use safety equipment as appropriate, including safety goggles and gloves.

Related Math TEKS

3.13A  The student is expected to collect, organize, record, and display data in pictographs and bar graphs where each picture or cell might represent more than one piece of data.

3.13B  The student is expected to interpret information from pictographs and bar graphs.

Additional Resources

Paper Airplanes: Joseph Palmer's Paper Airplanes (website) - This website contains four paper plane models that require no cutting, no weights, and are made from a single sheet of ordinary copier paper.

Paper Airplanes
Joseph Palmer's Paper Airplanes, www.josephpalmer.com

Science Fair Central: Discovery Education (website) – Need help getting started with an independent science experiment?  This site provides an abundance of ideas and suggestions.

Science Fair Central
Discovery Education, school.discoveryeducation.com

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