Skip Navigation
Search

Scientific Questions

Scientific Questions

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

Scientifically Testable Questions: National Institutes of Health (website) – Part of a larger guide on the process of inquiry science, this information focuses on testable questions.

Scientifically Testable Questions
National Institutes of Health, science.education.nih.gov

Science Fair Central: Discovery Education (website) – Questions related to testable investigations are outlined and many examples are given. 

Science Fair Central
Discovery Education, school.discoveryeducation.com

Signature Lesson

Working With Questions: NIH The Process of Scientific Inquiry (PDF) – Students consider what makes questions testable in this activity.  They also evaluate questions and then pose testable questions about scientific problems and come up with their own testable questions.  Student worksheets can be downloaded here:

Working With Questions
NIH The Process of Scientific Inquiry, science.education.nih.gov

Supporting Lessons

Germination Station: Center of Science and Industry (PDF) – Students brainstorm testable questions about the germination of a variety of seeds and then set out to answer these questions through experimental design.

Germination Station
Center of Science and Industry, dev.cosi.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Investigating How to Create a Stronger Electromagnet: Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project (website) - In this guided inquiry-based lesson, students will investigate what they can do to produce a stronger electromagnet. Students will write a testable question regarding their investigation and conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis.

Investigating How to Create a Stronger Electromagnet
Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project, serc.carleton.edu/sp/mnstep

Assessment Ideas

Show students a density column made of colored water, oil and corn syrup with giving them any information.  Have students create a list of questions they have of the column and mark questions that they could test.

Literature Connections

What If: Mind-Boggling Science Questions for Kids, Ehrlich, R. ISBN-13: 978-0471176084

How Come? Wollard, K. ISBN-13: 978-1563053245

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

3.14A              The student is expected to identify the mathematics in everyday situations.

3.14B               The student is expected to solve problems that incorporate understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution for reasonableness.

3.14C              The student is expected to select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy, including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, acting it out, making a table, working a simpler problem, or working backwards to solve a problem.

3.14D              The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

3.15A              The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Choose a Project Idea: Discovery Education (website) - Students can choose easy testable questions provided for a variety of science topics life, earth and physical science.  Students are encouraged to create their own testable questions as well.

Choose a Project Idea
Discovery Education, school.discoveryeducation.com

Close Comments Button

Comments

Post a Comment
Close Comments Button