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Scientific Presentations

Scientific Presentations

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to communicate valid conclusions supported by data in writing, by drawing pictures, and through verbal discussion.


Essential Understanding

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

Science Background

Teaching the Science Process Skills: Longwood University (PDF) – This article explains that students have to communicate clearly and effectively if they are going to share their observations with the class.

Teaching the Science Process Skills
Longwood University, www.longwood.edu

Creating and Exhibiting a Display: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston (PDF) – This section of a science fair guide provides tips for students presenting scientific data on a display board. 

Creating and Exhibiting a Display
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Think Central, go.hrw.com

Signature Lesson

Swing and Sway: Young Scientist Challenge (PDF) –An open ended project that challenges students to address the problem of creating a structure resistant to wind.  This activity was a prompt for a past online contest but the activity is still valid and engaging.  Students presented their results with a video submission, which could still be done as an in-class activity.

Swing and Sway
Young Scientist Challenge, www.youngscientistchallenge.com

Supporting Lessons

Break the Tension, A Water Experiment: Education.com (website) - Students experiment with surface tension in water, and then communicate their conclusions verbally and in writing.

Break the Tension, A Water Experiment
by Alicia Danyali, Education.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

How to Deliver a Good Oral Presentation: Discovery Education (website) - Tips for students (and their teachers) to overcome the natural apprehension of public speaking and deliver strong oral presentations.

How to Deliver a Good Oral Presentation
Discovery Education, school.discoveryeducation.com

Assessment Ideas

Evaluation Rubric for Science Presentations: Tempe Union High School District (website) - Use this rubric to score students’ oral, written or poster presentations.

Evaluation Rubric for Science Presentations
Tempe Union High School District, staff.tuhsd.k12.az.us

Oral Presentation Rubric: rubistar (website) - Complete rubric including 8 categories at 4 levels.

Oral Presentation Rubric
rubistar, www.rubistar.4teachers.org

Literature Connections

A+Projects: Winning Experiments for Science Fair. Vancleave, Janice (ISBN-13: 978-0471331025)

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

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

Communication and Leadership: BioEd Online (videos) - View three videos, by expert Tracy Volz, PhD, to strengthen presentation and professional relations skills.

Enhancing Your Leadership Presence
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Dynamite PPT Design
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Planning and Preparing for a Leadership Presentation
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms: Science Notebooks (website) - Examples of student work from science notebooks, guidance to incorporate science notebooks into your class activities, and strategies to integrate all content areas using notebooks.

Science Notebooks in K12 Classrooms
Science Notebooks, www.sciencenotebooks.org

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