Category Archives: scientific method

Scientific Method Worksheet

Scientific Method Worksheet

Why is teaching the scientific method so challenging?  Using these scientific method worksheets in sequence will help improve your student’s understanding.

Why does the sequence matter?

Scientific Method Worksheet

Teaching the scientific method offers several challenges. Using our sequence of scientific method worksheets and other scientific method practice activities your students will deepen their understanding of the scientific method.

Vocabulary is always a struggle for students especially if it is their first exposure to the terms.

Terms like independent variable, dependent variable, control, constant, hypothesis and  prediction are terms that are improperly used in everyday language.

How can you fix it?

Identifying student misconceptions is the first step in helping your students be successful in experimental design implementation.  Every class could have different misconceptions to address. To fix it, read on.

How to identify misconceptions?

One strategy you can use to identify student misconceptions is to simply ask them to define the terms in their own words. To do this, use one of my favorite strategies that many of my followers are already using. Click here to subscribe.

Use a beach ball(see related post).  Write the vocabulary terms on the beach ball using a dry erase marker and toss it around the room.

When the student’s left thumb lands on a term ask them to say what they think the definition of the term is.

Toss the beach ball around the room until you have a good understanding of their background knowledge and misconceptions of the scientific method vocabulary. Use this same technique after students have learned the words. This activity offers great repetition and can fill the last few minutes of class if you finish early.

Scientific Method-Inquiry

In addition, you can allow students to dive right in to designing an experiment using our Paper Folding Scientific Method Worksheet.

The Paper folding scientific method worksheet is the first in our sequence. The activity uses scientific inquiry and will allow you to see a wide range of your student’s ability levels and misconceptions on the first day of class.
Paper Folding Scientific Method Worksheet

After understanding and addressing your student’s misconceptions of the scientific method, you can present the  proper terminology to the students.

You can use our Experimental Design Notes. This presentation is part of our Scientific Method Unit  (experimental design) that you can access free.

Check out our Full Biology Curriculum

The second scientific method worksheet in our sequence allows students to practice only independent and dependent variables in a variety of scenarios.

Independent variable and dependent variable worksheet

Why does this matter?

Focusing only independent and dependent variable this Independent and dependent variable worksheet allows students the opportunity to truly understand the terms and apply them to scenarios without being overwhelmed by other vocabulary terms.

Notice:

The next scientific method worksheet requires students to analyze entire experiments in the Experimental Design Scenarios Worksheet.

In this sequence, your students start off  simple and progressively move to more complex tasks.

It Gets Better!

Next, students design there own experiment using mealworms (Super worms are best). Using the scientific method students make observations,  research, develop a question, hypothesis, identify variables,  write procedures, carry out an investigation, collect and analyze data and share their results in a lab report using our awesome lab report rubric and template that is included in our free scientific method unit!

Get access to our entire scientific method unit and more <click here>

Simple right?

Unfortunately, many teachers fail to use this simple approach because they just to do not have them time to sit down and create or find all of the worksheets they need.

We have them done for you! 

And a lot more! 

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scientific method lesson plans

Mealworm Inquiry Lab

 Mealworm Inquiry Lab

This week my students have been working on the Mealworm Inquiry Lab. In this lab, students apply everything they have learned about experimental design by creating their own experiment using mealworms (Superworms actually).

 

Superworms can be purchased at the local pet store and are great for this activity. The Superworms do not jump on the kids and they move slow enough to easily control.

They also have an interesting life cycle that the students learn about in their research.  In this inquiry lab, students make observations, conduct research, develop a question, identify variables, create a hypothesis, create procedures,  create choice chambers for their experiment, collect data, analyse data and draw a conclusion based on their results.

GET YOUR COPY HERE

Here are some example of their set up:

Note: About 40% of the students in this class have an IEP. The experiments were not perfectly controlled but this lab offers so much opportunity to address their weakness through questioning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have the students create a lab report when they are finished using my lab report rubric and guide

If you like this activity, you will love our Full Biology Curriculum. Check it out here.

Biology Curriculum

 

Independent and Dependent Variable Worksheet

Independent and Dependent Variable Worksheet

Many students struggle when learning about the independent and dependent variable. When teaching them the independent and dependent variable I try to simplify the two terms to be as simple as possible but still allow students to apply the definitions to an actual scientific experiment or scenario.

The independent variable can be defined as the variable that is manipulated. It is what the experimenter is adding to the experimental group. To simplify the independent variable for students I use the single word (changed) for the definition.

The dependent variable can be defined as the responding variable. The depend variable  can be simplified for students by mentioning that the dependent variable is the variable that is measured or counted.

To help my students get plenty of practice with this concept I have created a simple independent and dependent variable worksheet that gives them  some practice applying the independent and dependent variable to actual experiments.

This worksheet is one of many the my email subscribers regularly get delivered right to their inbox. Sign up here  to get more free worksheet and printable and so you do not miss out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IV and DV Scenarios-PDF

Introduction to Experimental Design

Experimental Design Activity

As the first days of school near, I wanted to share one of my favorite activities that ease students into the scientific method and experimental design. This activity is a guided inquiry paper folding activity that will help student get the cobwebs out of their brains.

There is a common myth that you cannot fold a paper more than seven times. This activity allow students to conduct an investigation to explore this claim.

In the activity students will explore the following vocabulary:

  • prediction
  • independent variable
  • dependent variable
  • bias
  • property
  • standard notation
  • scientific notation
  • hypothesis

Throughout this activity the students explore the scientific method and design an experiment that answers the question: How many time can you fold a piece of 8 1/2in x 11in computer paper? This experimental design activity is a quick hitter that allows you to assess your students abilities and begin to establish lab procedures.

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At the end of the activity student will watch a four minute video from the Mythbusters that will likely change their conclusions.

Paper folding experimental design activity worksheet.

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Click here for the video that goes with this lesson.