Scientific Method Lesson Plan

Description of the material selected as the focus of the Lesson – The video that will be shown is a DVD of a segment from the Discovery Channel show Myth Busters (approximately 11 minutes). The segment discusses a myth involving Mentos and Diet Coke. The purpose of this video is to show the scientific method in action when trying to answer questions about an observed phenomenon (when Mentos are added to Diet Coke the soda shoots out of the bottle). This video will serve as an example for the students of the steps that should be followed when performing their own labs in future weeks.

Lesson Plan Title – The Scientific Method

Discipline and Topic – Chemistry Lab, The scientific method will be introduced. The steps in the method as well as their application to real experiments will be discussed.

Target Population – High School students. The students in the class are all 10^th or 11^th graders who have previous success in math and science. Most of the students are extremely self-motivated and have a desire to learn the topic. This lesson will be a lecture to the whole class and work in pairs on questions related to the video.

Curriculum Links – Laboratory safety and the use of the various safety equipment in the lab has been discussed. This lesson will serve to prepare the students for performing labs and writing lab reports. In future weeks the students will implement the scientific method when designing experiments to perform, using information and equipment that has been provided for the students.

Objectives – At the end of the lesson the students will be able to:

-compare and contrast various conclusions based on the merits of the experimental procedure that was used

-describe what is done in each step of the scientific method

-critique a lab experiment based on its use of the scientific method

-use the scientific method when performing labs

-list the steps in the scientific method

-develop procedures for testing various phenomenon based on the scientific method

Media Literacy Objectives – The students will be able to:

-think of the scientific method as more than a way of designing experiments, but as a process for analyzing any question in one’s life

-use the method as a means for defending their ideas (support with data)

Materials and Timing – The lesson will take 1 class period. Materials:

DVD player for showing the video

Student handouts of questions about the video

Scope and Sequence – Review laboratory safety that was discussed in previous lab class.

What is the Scientific Method?

-a series of steps for answering questions about specific problems

-can be used in most aspects of life, but especially useful when dealing with scientific problems

Steps in the Scientific Method

1. Determine the Question

-first thing to do is determine what you are trying to learn about

2. Gather Information

-find information about the question that is trying to be answered

-make use of outside resources to learn about the problem you are trying to solve

3. Form a Hypothesis

-using the information that was gathered, propose an answer to the question that was developed

4. Design/Perform an Experiment and Gather Data

-develop a procedure that will test your hypothesis

-keys to a good experiment

-test only one variable at once- only change one aspect of the experiment at a time, if multiple things are being tested, use more than one test

-use a control group- a control group keeps all aspects of the experiment constant, this serves as a reference for the experiment

-carry out the procedure

-gather the necessary data from the procedure

5. Analyze the Data

-perform any necessary calculations after all necessary data has been collected, don’t try to analyze the data as you go along

6. Interpret the Data

-determine whether the data supports or refutes your hypothesis

What if the Data Goes Against the Initial Hypothesis?

-method is an ongoing process

-if hypothesis is disproven, go back to information that was gathered and develop a new hypothesis

-once new hypothesis developed follow the steps for performing experiment, analyzing data, and interpreting the data

What is the Difference between a Theory and a Law?

-Theory- based on various experiments, gives a way of explaining observed phenomena

-Law- states behaviors that are observed, but does not explain why

-Laws summarize observations and is generally concrete, Theories try to explain laws and can be disproven with experimentation

Show a video of the scientific method in action on a segment from Myth Busters from the Discovery Channel.

Students will work in pairs to answer questions about the scientific method in the Myth Busters segment. The worksheet will be handed in at the end of the class period.

Supplemental Materials – Student copies of questions on the video.

Evaluation of Students –

Objectives	1 point	2 points	3 points
Can determine the steps in the scientific method	Able to determine few/none of the steps in the method	Able to determine some of the steps in the scientific method	Able to determine all/most of the steps in the method
Can explain what the student is supposed to do in each step of the scientific method	Can’t explain what is done in many of the steps of the scientific method	Explains what is done in some of the steps in the method	Explains what is done in all/most steps of the method
Able to distinguish between a good procedure and a bad based on the scientific method	Unable to distinguish between a good and bad procedure	Has some understanding of the differences between a good and bad procedure	Has a thorough understanding of what makes a good and bad procedure
Class/Group Participation	Not attentive in the class in any way, did not participate when working in pairs to answer questions on the video	Attentive, but not actively participating in the class (notes or questions), does not say much in pairs when answering questions on the video	Attentively taking notes and watching the video segment, participated actively when working on questions about the video
Preparation for Class	Unexcused late w/no materials for class	On time w/no materials for class, or unexcused late w/materials	On time w/materials

Evaluation of the Lesson – In order to determine the success of the lesson the questions analyzing the scientific method in the video can be evaluated. If the students can explain how the scientific method was used in the experiment performed on Myth Busters, then the lesson on the process can be viewed as a success. The long term success of the lesson can be evaluated when examining the students’ actions when performing labs in future weeks. If the students understand how to use the scientific method, then it will be visible in the way they perform their labs in upcoming classes. If the students are using the information that they gathered to develop a hypothesis and an experiment to test that hypothesis, then the students effectively learned how to use the scientific method from this lesson. Similarly, if the students disprove their hypothesis and understand that a new hypothesis and experiment must be developed, then the students were able to learn that the scientific method is a fluid process that is goes on perpetually. The information presented in this lesson is extremely important for performing labs throughout the year, so special attention should be paid to the use of the scientific method in the first few classes that follow this lesson.