Description
The truth is: Valid research demands more than beakers and Bunsen burners-- much more. So give kids the lowdown on how real scientists work. This engaging book shows you how to develop students’ creative and critical thinking skills to make qualitative and quantitative observations, compare testable research questions and hypotheses, design an experiment, collect and analyze data, and present results and conclusions orally and in writing. In addition to handy reproducible pages, the book is packed with special features: an unusually large section on quantitative analysis and data interpretation, plenty of background for teachers inexperienced with statistics and data analysis, and a mix of both formative and summative assessment strategies.
Ideas For Use
This curriculum is designed to be taught from beginning to end (Day 1 to Day 40).
For the teacher with limited time, however, we outline three “Fast-Track” options
on pages ix–xi. Overall, the curriculum presents scientific inquiry skills in
a sequentially logical manner and creates opportunities for students to practice and apply the skills in a research project of their own. The centerpiece of the curriculum is the Long-Term Research Project (LTRP), in which student groups formulate a testable research question and hypotheses, design their experimental methods, collect and analyze data, and present their research results and conclusions in a written and oral format.
Contents
About the Authors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Organization
• Section I: Research Questions and Hypotheses. Days 1–10
• Section II: Experimental Design. Days 11–20
• Section III: Summarizing and Analyzing Results. Days 21–32
• Section IV: Presentation of Research Projects. Days 33–40
Fast-Track Options
Assessment of Student Learning
Planning Essentials
Alignment with Atlas of Science Literacy Maps
Correlations with the National Science Education Standards
Materials List
sciLINKS
SECTION I: Research Questions and Hypotheses
Background Information
Day 1—Ooze Observations
Day 2—Imagining and Planning Ooze Experiments
Day 3—Ooze Experiments
Days 4, 5—Science Boxes
Day 6—Long-Term Research Project (LTRP): Local Landscape
Day 7—LTRP: Field Techniques
Day 8—LTRP: Research Questions and Hypotheses
Day 9—LTRP: Library Research I
Day 10—LTRP: Introduction Paragraph
SECTION II: Experimental Design
Background Information
Days 11, 12—The Toughest Towel
Days 13, 14—Wigglin’ Worms
Day 15—The Wheel of Inquiry Game!
Days 16, 17—LTRP: Methods and Materials
Day 18—LTRP: Data Sheets
Days 19, 20—LTRP: Field Trip
SECTION III: Summarizing and Analyzing Results
Background Information
Day 21—LTRP: Tables Tell the Tale
Day 22—Aqueous Averages
Days 23, 24—LTRP: Graphing Data
Day 25—Faux Fish Figuring
Day 26—Stat Savvy
Day 27—T-Test Practice
Day 28—LTRP: T-Tests
Day 29—LTRP: Results Paragraph
Day 30—LTRP: Library Research II
Days 31, 32—LTRP: Discussion Paragraph
SECTION IV: Presentation of Research Projects
Background Information
Day 33—LTRP: Peer Reviews
Days 34, 35, 36—LTRP: Poster Preparation
Days 37, 38, 39—LTRP: Preparing Research Presentations
Day 40—LTRP: Practicing Research Presentations
LTRP: Celebration Night
Award Certificate
Appendix A: Definitions of Statistical Terms
Appendix B: Example Posters
Appendix C: Worm Presentation
Appendix D: How to Make Tables and Graphs Using Microsoft Works
Appendix E: Scenario-Based Assessment Questions