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Experimental Design

Experimental Design

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking well-defined questions, making inferences, and selecting and using appropriate equipment or technology to answer his/her questions.


Essential Understanding

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

Science Background

The Scientific Method: Visionlearning (website) - Background information about the scientific method, with supporting learning modules that include interactive animations, glossary definitions, current news and research written by professional educators and scientists.

The Scientific Method
Visionlearning, http://www.visionlearning.com

Research Methods, Experimentation: Visionlearning (website) - Detailed information on the history and applications of experimental methods, along with references for further reading and additional learning modules on research methods.

Research Methods, Experimentation
Visionlearning, http://www.visionlearning.com

What is Inquiry Science Teaching? BioEd Online (video) - Strategies for using questions and investigations to guide your students’ science learning.

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

Signature Lesson

Swinging Yo-Yo: How To Smile (website) - Students build a pendulum from a yo-yo, and then design and implement their own investigations, including well-defined questions, to determine how different variables affect the pendulum's period of swing.

Swinging Yo-Yo
How To Smile, http://www.howtosmile.org

Supporting Lessons

Rockets Away: 4HCCS (PDF) - Students use straws to build rockets and then test different design variables to determine which model rocket flies the farthest.

Rockets Away
4HCCS, http://4h.uwex.edu

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Energy Fair Experimental Design: NEED Project (PDF) - Downloadable guide to teaching students the scientific method using the experimental design model, with an emphasis on projects related to energy.

Energy Fair Experimental Design
NEED Project, http://www.need.org

Assessment Ideas

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

Rubric for Experimental Design
Beacon Learning Center, http://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, R.M. (ISBN-13: 978-1600445422)

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

Related Science TEKS

(4.2A) Plan and Implement Descriptive Investigation 
The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking well-defined questions, making inferences, and selecting and using appropriate equipment or technology to answer his/her questions.

(4.2B) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect and record data by observing and measuring, using the metric system, and using descriptive words and numerals such as labeled drawings, writing, and concept maps.

(4.2C) Graphs, Tables, Charts  
The student is expected to construct simple tables, charts, bar graphs, and maps using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate data.

(4.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain  
The student is expected to analyze data and interpret patterns to construct reasonable explanations from data that can be observed and measured.

(4.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments  
The student is expected to perform repeated investigations to increase the reliability of results.

(4.2F) Communicate Conclusions   
The student is expected to communicate valid, oral, and written results supported by data.

(4.3A) Analyze, Evaluate and Critique Explanations  
The student is expected to in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.

(4.3C) Develop a Model  
The student is expected to represent the natural world using models such as rivers, stream tables, or fossils and identify their limitations, including accuracy and size

4.4 Science Tools   
The student knows how to use a variety of tools, materials, equipment, and models to conduct science inquiry.

(4.4A) Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Information  
The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including calculators, microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, mirrors, spring scales, pan balances, triple beam balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(4.4B) Safety Equipment  
The student is expected to use safety equipment as appropriate, including safety goggles and gloves.

Related Math TEKS

4.11A  The student is expected to estimate and use measurement tools to determine length (including perimeter), area, capacity and weight/mass using standard units SI (metric) and customary.

4.11B   The student is expected to perform simple conversions between different units of length, between different units of capacity, and between different units of weight within the customary measurement system.

4.11C   The student is expected to use concrete models of standard cubic units to measure volume.

4.11D  The student is expected to estimate volume in cubic units.

4.11E   The student is expected to explain the difference between weight and mass.

4.12A  The student is expected to use a thermometer to measure temperature and changes in temperature.

4.12B   The student is expected to use tools such as a clock with gears or a stopwatch to solve problems involving elapsed time.

4.13A  The student is expected to use concrete objects or pictures to make generalizations about determining all possible combinations of a given set of data or of objects in a problem situation.

4.13B   The student is expected to interpret bar graphs.

4.14A  The student is expected to identify the mathematics in everyday situations.

4.14B   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.

4.14C   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.

Additional Resources

Joseph Palmer's Paper Airplanes: JosephPalmer.com (website) - Teach experimental design with four paper airplane models that require no cutting, no weights, and are made from a single sheet of ordinary copier paper.

Joseph Palmer's Paper Airplanes
JosephPalmer.com, http://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, http://school.discoveryeducation.com

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