SCIENTIFIC inquiry AND THE engineering DESIGN PROCESS
Essential Understanding
There is a process by which scientists and engineers make progress. Scientists typically ask questions and follow the Science Inquiry Process (aka Scientific Method) to gain knowledge. Engineers typically solve problems and follow the Engineering Design Process to invent and improve solutions.
Essential Questions
What are the 8 steps in the 8-Step Scientific Inquiry Process?
What are the 8 steps in the 8-step Engineering Design Process?
Standards
Connecticut Curriculum Standards and Assessment Expectations: Grades 6 - 8, Science
C INQ.1 Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigation
C INQ.2 Read, interpret and examine the credibility of scientific claims in different sources of information
C INQ.3 Design and conduct appropriate types of scientific investigations to answer different questions
C INQ.4 Identify independent and dependent variables, and those variables that are kept constant when designing an experiment.
C INQ.5 Use appropriate tools and techniques to make observations and gather data
C INQ.6 Use mathematical operations to analyze and interpret data.
C INQ.7 Identify and present relationships between variables in appropriate graphs
C INQ.8 Draw conclusions and identify sources of error
C INQ.9 Provide explanations to investigated problems or questions
C INQ.10 communicate about science in different formats, using relevant science vocabulary, supporting evidence and clear logic.
Next Generation Science Standards, Science and Engineering Practices, April 2013
Practice 1 Asking questions and defining problems
Practice 2 Developing and Using Models
Practice 3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Practice 4 Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Practice 5 Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
Practice 6 Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Practice 7 Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Practice 8 Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Lesson Objectives
8-Step Scientific Inquiry Process, each student will be able to:
8-Step Engineering Design Process, each student will be able to:
PowerPoint Presentations
Scientific Inquiry Process - 6th Grade
Scientific Inquiry Process - 7th Grade
Scientific Inquiry Process - 8th Grade
Engineering Design Process
Class Assignments
Flowers and Detergent - Using the Scientific Inquiry Process worksheet
Chirping Crickets - Scientific Inquiry Process worksheet
Medieval Scientist - She's a Witch transcript and worksheet
Links for Media Used in Class
Thou Shall Not Commit Logical Fallacies by www.yourlogicalfallacyis.com
Using the Scientific Method - Does detergent affect flower growth - 6th grade
Chirping Crickets - Scientific Inquiry Process 7th grade
Medieval Scientist - She's a Witch - 8th grade
The horse in motion (Eadweard Muybridge) 1878 First Film Ever
Worksheets/Study Aids
Scientific Method Word Journal
Practice Experiments
Testable Questions worksheet and Answer Key
A Variable Way to Practice Hypotheses and Variables and Answer Key
Other Cool Stuff Related to This Unit
Scientific Method Tutorial - this is really good!
Instructions: Click "continue"
Put in only the first letter of your first and last name, click continue
Click "tutorial"
I Don't thing that means what you think it means
Biology Corner: Scientific Method Resources, Tutorials, Activities and Stories
Scientific Method Scavenger Hunt
The Marshmallow Test - Video 1
The Mature Marshmallow Test - Video 2
Joachim de Posada says, Don't eat the marshmallow yet (2009) TED Talk
Self control: Dan Ariely at TEDxDuke
NOVA | Inside NOVA: Change Blindness
A Class Divided by Jane Elliott FULL DOC. (1985) Blue Eyes Brown Eyes Exercise
Online Learning Tools - Biology
NASA - EDP
http://www.factor-tech.com/
Futurism
TED talk - Google Cars
The Hidden Life of the Cell – BBC (2012)
There is a process by which scientists and engineers make progress. Scientists typically ask questions and follow the Science Inquiry Process (aka Scientific Method) to gain knowledge. Engineers typically solve problems and follow the Engineering Design Process to invent and improve solutions.
Essential Questions
What are the 8 steps in the 8-Step Scientific Inquiry Process?
What are the 8 steps in the 8-step Engineering Design Process?
Standards
Connecticut Curriculum Standards and Assessment Expectations: Grades 6 - 8, Science
C INQ.1 Identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigation
C INQ.2 Read, interpret and examine the credibility of scientific claims in different sources of information
C INQ.3 Design and conduct appropriate types of scientific investigations to answer different questions
C INQ.4 Identify independent and dependent variables, and those variables that are kept constant when designing an experiment.
C INQ.5 Use appropriate tools and techniques to make observations and gather data
C INQ.6 Use mathematical operations to analyze and interpret data.
C INQ.7 Identify and present relationships between variables in appropriate graphs
C INQ.8 Draw conclusions and identify sources of error
C INQ.9 Provide explanations to investigated problems or questions
C INQ.10 communicate about science in different formats, using relevant science vocabulary, supporting evidence and clear logic.
Next Generation Science Standards, Science and Engineering Practices, April 2013
Practice 1 Asking questions and defining problems
Practice 2 Developing and Using Models
Practice 3 Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Practice 4 Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Practice 5 Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking
Practice 6 Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Practice 7 Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Practice 8 Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Lesson Objectives
8-Step Scientific Inquiry Process, each student will be able to:
- Identify and generate testable questions that require verification, research or an experiment
- Develop criteria for evaluating whether a website or other resource provides objective or subjective information
- Define the following: independent variable, dependent variable, control variable, and The Control (if any)
- Create a hypothesis that is in the proper format and makes an educated prediction
- Conduct an experiment, collect data using a table, analyze data using a graph, and make a data-driven conclusion to answer the testable question
- Communicate findings in a lab-report format and recommend further investigations
8-Step Engineering Design Process, each student will be able to:
- Identify and generate an engineering problem
- Identify criteria and constraints that must be considered in designing a solution to the engineering problem
- Brainstorm possible solutions that meet the required criteria and constraints
- Develop criteria for evaluating whether a website or other resource provides objective or subjective information
- Select an approach that may best solve the engineering problem while also meeting the criteria and constraints
- Build a prototype given a limited amount of resources
- Develop a test for a prototype
- Communicate results in an informal blog format and recommend further improvements and redesign
PowerPoint Presentations
Scientific Inquiry Process - 6th Grade
Scientific Inquiry Process - 7th Grade
Scientific Inquiry Process - 8th Grade
Engineering Design Process
Class Assignments
Flowers and Detergent - Using the Scientific Inquiry Process worksheet
Chirping Crickets - Scientific Inquiry Process worksheet
Medieval Scientist - She's a Witch transcript and worksheet
Links for Media Used in Class
Thou Shall Not Commit Logical Fallacies by www.yourlogicalfallacyis.com
Using the Scientific Method - Does detergent affect flower growth - 6th grade
Chirping Crickets - Scientific Inquiry Process 7th grade
Medieval Scientist - She's a Witch - 8th grade
The horse in motion (Eadweard Muybridge) 1878 First Film Ever
Worksheets/Study Aids
Scientific Method Word Journal
Practice Experiments
Testable Questions worksheet and Answer Key
A Variable Way to Practice Hypotheses and Variables and Answer Key
Other Cool Stuff Related to This Unit
Scientific Method Tutorial - this is really good!
Instructions: Click "continue"
Put in only the first letter of your first and last name, click continue
Click "tutorial"
I Don't thing that means what you think it means
Biology Corner: Scientific Method Resources, Tutorials, Activities and Stories
Scientific Method Scavenger Hunt
The Marshmallow Test - Video 1
The Mature Marshmallow Test - Video 2
Joachim de Posada says, Don't eat the marshmallow yet (2009) TED Talk
Self control: Dan Ariely at TEDxDuke
NOVA | Inside NOVA: Change Blindness
A Class Divided by Jane Elliott FULL DOC. (1985) Blue Eyes Brown Eyes Exercise
Online Learning Tools - Biology
NASA - EDP
http://www.factor-tech.com/
Futurism
TED talk - Google Cars
The Hidden Life of the Cell – BBC (2012)