Teaching a Technology- Enriched Science Investigation Unit What is Scientific Inquiry? iLearn Science Session 2

Focusing Questions What is scientific inquiry? What does it look like in the classroom?

Instruction

Framing the Session Probes are a useful tool for scientific research: They allow us to collect our data faster and more accurately. They allow us to focus more on the inquiry process than the data collecting process.

Objectives for the iLearn 6th Grade Science Series 1. Teachers will understand the process of scientific inquiry. 2. Teachers will become proficient in using probes to support scientific inquiry. 3. Teachers will understand the advantages of using probes in the classroom to support scientific investigations. 4. Teachers will understand the importance of data collection and analysis as being fundamental to scientific inquiry. 5. Teachers will become proficient in using software to organize and analyze data. 6. Teachers will become proficient in using software to represent data in the form of graphs.

Brainstorming Activity What is the purpose of scientific inquiry?

Brainstorming Activity What is the purpose of scientific inquiry? The purpose of scientific inquiry is to investigate systematically questions we have about the natural world, and to develop explanations that help us to better understand natural phenomena.

Brainstorming Activity 2. What are some of the characteristics of scientific inquiry?

Brainstorming Activity 2. What are some of the characteristics of scientific inquiry? Making observations, developing investigable questions, designing strategies to answer these questions, collecting and organizing data, analyzing data, drawing conclusions, communicating results, discussing the importance of the results, and developing further questions to investigate.

Work Time

The Cube Activity (Cube 1) Rules: Participant may not pick the cube up from the desk. Work in groups of three. As a group, write down a few questions.

The Cube Activity (Cube 1) Investigate:  What is on the bottom of the cube?  Record observations about the cube.  Develop a hypothesis.

The Cube Activity (Cube 2) Working with Cube 2: Within the group there should be a recorder. The recorder should write notes on questions developed by the group. The group should also develop a hypothesis and make observations.

Share

What process skills did we use to answer these questions? What are the characteristics of scientific inquiry? Share What process skills did we use to answer these questions? What are the characteristics of scientific inquiry?

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