Direct Instruction

The learning intention for this lesson was to be able to conduct an experiment and write up the process and results using the scientific method. The students needed to understand the scientific method and see examples of this, I used this as my reading focus of the week so that we could unpack this in greater detail. Students needed to create a hypothesis and then carefully conduct an experiment and analyse the results.

This episode show the students coming up with a research question, discussing a hypothesis and what they thought before the experiment. It also show the students conducting an experiment, looking at the results and have a dicsussion around what these results have shown us.

Extended plan here

Reflection

I really enjoyed this lesson, it was really awesome to see how excited the students were to complete the experiment and see the discussions that the students had about what was happening the to the ingredients in the cup when the water was added. If I could do this lesson again I would have the ingredients in smaller bowls for each group because I spent a lot of time wandering around making sure that each group had what they needed.

Overall I think this was a really fantastic lesson and I am so glad that I did it with my class. It was so amazing to see the delight on the students' faces and to see how much learning they were getting out of the experience. I think I am sometimes a little bit too scared to try things outside the box as it can not go to plan or can create a lot of chaos but after watching this lesson back and seeing the discussions that the students had while doing this experiment it was well worth it and I can’t wait to try our next experiment as a class.

Things to note

This lesson was filmed over two day as we had other things happening on the first day as well as lots of students going home due to the weather warning. I lost the footage of my introduction sequence which is why the beginning part it just of my students listening to the instructions. The overall noise level in the classroom was really loud and the rich discussions couldn't be heard very clearly which is why I have used a voice over to show the experiments.

Class Site Content

Week 3 - Experiment Writing

WALT: safely conduct an experiment and explain the process and results using the scientific method.

Instructions

This week we are going to learn how to conduct an experiment and write up the results using the scientific method. As a class we will come up with a question and hypothesis, complete the experiment as a class and then write up the results.

Watch the video about the scientific method.
Complete the question and hypothesis part of the scientific method.
Complete the experiment with Miss Parrant.
Continue working on the writing task for this week.
See Miss Parrant when your group is called upon.
Complete the writing tasks for this week.
Post these on your blog with a task description then fill out the turn it in sheet.