Welcome Students and Parents to the 4 th Grade Family Science Web Inquiry Pages!

Transcription

1 Welcome Students and Parents to the 4 th Grade Family Science Web Inquiry Pages! Our goal is to take science to the next level. Science is everywhere It is on the road, in the grocery store, outside, and in our kitchens! We would like to encourage our students to follow the experiments posted monthly. Points to remember: All activities posted are experiments not models Students should follow the Scientific Method in the correct order below using the attached form. Students may receive extra credit for each completed experiment and Scientific method form Families may participate with their 4 th graders. Have Fun! What is the Scientific Method? The scientific method is a set of steps all scientists use to guide them through their inquiries and data collection. The ultimate goal of scientific inquiry is to gather information and to share this information with the community. This information usually spurs us on to ask more questions! 1. Ask a Question-What are you curious about or what have you seen that makes you wonder? 2. Do Research- Find out about your topic. What have others already learned about your topic? What can you learn about your topic that will help you with the experiment? Research can be done by going on the Internet (with your parents guidance), reading books and magazines, reading your science book and/or asking an expert. 3. Hypothesis/Predictions- What do you thinks is the answer to your question? What are some if/then statements that you can use to confirm your hypothesis? 4. Experiment- This step includes listing the materials and the procedures to your experiment. What will you do to test your prediction? Identify and control your variables. We recommend having only one variable for our beginning scientists. The variable is the one thing that is different in your experiment. Your hypothesis may or may not be correct! It doesn t matter! 5. Collect Data and Analyze your Results to form a Conclusion- Take pictures, measurements, or observable information about your experiment. Be accurate and write everything down! Use this information to make graphs, charts and/or tables. What did the experiment show? Did you prove your hypothesis? 6. Applications/Communication- How does the information you found relate to everyday life? Share your results with others. Can it help improve or solve a problem for the community?

2 Here is an example! Scientific Method Form Name (Just do for fun or turn in completed form for extra credit) Step 1-Ask a Question Which bubble gum will make the biggest bubbles? Step 2-Do Research (Make a list of any books, articles, or internet sites you read) Give 3 facts that you learned about this month s topic. Bubblemania: A Chewy History of Bubble Gum by Lee Wardlaw Thomas Adams tried to change chicle into synthetic rubber products, before he made chewing gum. He popped an extra piece into his mouth and liked the taste and bubblegum was made! He sold the gum in New York in drug stores for a penny a piece. Greeks, Native Americans and Mayans all chewed sap from trees. Gum is made from a gum base, sweeteners, primarily sugar and corn syrup, and flavorings. Step 3- Hypothesis/Prediction (What do you think will happen?) I think the Double Bubble Gum will blow the biggest bubbles. Step 4: Experiment (Complete both sections below) Materials: Procedures: Tape Measure Camera Pencil Double Bubble gum Hubba Bubba gum Zebra Gum Bubble Beeper Bazooka Bubble Gum 1. Chew gum for at least 5 minutes or 100 chews. 2. Blow a bubble 3. Measure the diameter of the bubble 4. Record the measurement. 5. Repeat procedure with each type of gum. 6. Take photos Brands of Gum These are the variables. Everything else in the experiment needs to stay the same!!!

3 Diameter of the Bubble Collect Data/Analyze Your Results Take pictures if you can. Make a graph, chart or table. Feel free to do this on the computer, on graph paper or other paper. Which Gum Blows the Biggest Bubbles? # of inches Bazooka Zebra Double Bubble Bubble Beeper Hubba Bubba Types of Gums Double Bubble blew the biggest bubbles! Applications/Communications (How could you use this information?) Tell people about what you discovered. Write a paragraph. Double Bubble blows the biggest bubbles. It has the most chicle that makes it super stretchy. I plan to have Double Bubble for my birthday party and share it with my friends. The Zebra gum tastes great, because it has a lot of sugar. The cost of the gums were similar. Below is a form for you to use for your own experiments. Now you try! Check for new experiments that will be posted every month! Have fun!!!

4 Scientific Method Form (Just do for fun or turn in completed form for extra credit) Step 1-Ask a Question Name Step 2-Do Research (Make a list of any books, articles, or internet sites you read) Give 3 facts that you learned about this month s topic. Step 3- Hypothesis/Prediction (What do you think will happen?) Step 4: Experiment (Complete both sections below) Materials: Procedures: (Make sure you identify your variables!)

5 Collect Data/Analyze Your Results Take pictures if you can. Make a graph, chart or table. Feel free to do this on the computer, on graph paper or other paper. Applications/Communications (How could you use this information?) Tell people about what you discovered. Write a paragraph.