LESSON PLAN SCIENCE, GRADE 6

Date: 4/15/2017
Teacher(s) Name: Mr. Guler
Grade: 6, Science
Lesson: Introduction to Scientific Method
Content Area: Unit: 1 Science as Inquiry

Description/Abstract of Lesson: Students will identify and rehearse the seven steps of
the scientific method through an activity and figure out the steps in a given story also
memorize the steps with an acronym. This outcome is crucial for students being able to
recognize the logical approach to problem solving and thinking like a scientist in both
science class and the real world. Being able to identify the steps within a scenario will
set students up for success in mastering each individual step throughout this unit.

Timeline of Lesson: 78 minutes

Science Louisiana Grade Level Expectations (GLE)

SI GLE 38 Explain that, through the use of scientific processes and knowledge, people can
solve problems, make decisions, and form new ideas (SI-M-B6)

SI GLE 27 Recognize that science uses processes that involve a logical and empirical, but
flexible, approach to problem solving (SI-M-B1) 1

Objectives: Upon successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

a) Explore the 7 steps of the scientific method that will be used throughout the
year
b) List and name the steps, also underline the steps in a given story.
This outcome is crucial for students being able to recognize the logical approach to problem
solving and thinking like a scientist in both science class and the real world. Being able to
identify the steps within a scenario will set students up for success in mastering each
individual step throughout this unit.

Instructional Objective: With the acronym provided, students will be able to state the
seven steps of the scientific method and identify the seven steps in a given story with 100%
accuracy.

Materials: Smartboard, Handouts for students, computer, a bag of M&Ms, Power Point
Presentation that goes with handout, pencil.

Introduction:

Begin instruction with a Catalyst problem.

1. What does it mean to you to think like a scientist?

2. In your own words, what is the Scientific Method? Why do we use it?
3. What are two experiments you would like to conduct in your science lab
later in the year?
 The problem could be presented on the Smart Board as the students entered the class. Students work on the Do Now during the taking of
attendance, collection of homework, and other administrative tasks. Teacher and students will discuss the answers / comments.

Model the Activity

Instructional Activities and Procedures

Whole class: The teacher will use a bag of M&M for intro activity hook/modeling and asking them what they would wonder and would like to
know about the bag of M&M. And when the variety of answers were given by students completed, teacher will pick the question How many
M&Ms are in the bag and tell the students that this is the first step in the scientific method, which is the asking question. And then teacher moves to
next steps listed below.

1. Ask a question.
What are you trying to find out in your experiment?
2. Make observations and do research.
What do you notice that relates to your question?
What have other people did before you found out about this topic?
You will not ALWAYS do research when you perform and experiment.
3. Form a hypothesis.
Make a guess about what will happen.
4. Perform the experiment.
5. Analyze the data and results.
Look at your information, and think about what it says.
6. Draw conclusions.
Decide whether your hypothesis was right or wrong.
7. Communicate results.
Write a letter, write an article for a journal, tell your friend, make a website!
 Agenda
Time Procedures/Acti Materials/Content
vities
_7__ Catalyst (Bell 4. What does it mean to you to think like a scientist?
Minutes work/Warm-up) 5. In your own words, what is the Scientific Method? Why do we use it?
6. What are two experiments you would like to conduct in your science lab later in the
year?
_8__ New M&M intro activity hook/modeling
Minutes Material/Modelin
g Intro to steps
15 Minutes 1. Ask a question.
What are you trying to find out in your experiment?
2. Make observations and do research.
What do you notice that relates to your question?
What have other people before you found out about this topic?
You will not ALWAYS do research when you perform and experiment.
3. Form a hypothesis.
Make a guess about what will happen.
4. Perform the experiment.
5. Analyze the data and results.
Look at your information, and think about what it says.
6. Draw conclusions.
Decide whether your hypothesis was right or wrong.
7. Communicate results.
Write a letter, write an article for a journal, tell your friend, make a website!

Watch me name the steps

Bob noticed that his cat likes some kinds of cat food, but not all kinds. Bob wonders,
What is Fluffys favorite type of cat food? Bob thinks that Fluffys favorite is Purina
Chicken Flavored cat food. When Fluffy has her next meal, Bob puts out two cat food
10 Minutes bowls, one with Purina Chicken Flavored cat food, and one with Friskies tuna flavored cat
food. When Fluffy comes into the kitchen, she eats 10 bites of Purina cat food, and 3 bites
of Friskies cat food. Bob looks at these numbers, and decides that Fluffy must like Purina
better. He writes a letter to his brother to tell him what happened.
_13__ Guided Practice Whole group practice: Figure out the seven steps of the scientific method in the story.
Minutes Larry wonders whether a baseball or a tennis ball will bounce higher. He guesses
that it will be the tennis ball. Larry takes both balls outside, and holds them at the
same height. He drops each one, and measures the distance it bounces. The tennis
ball bounces 10 inches, and the baseball bounces 4 inches. Larry looks at these
measurements, and decides that his hypothesis was correct the tennis ball
bounces higher. He runs inside to tell his mom what he found.
Partner practice:
Partner practice: identify steps in hamburger example on worksheet in packet
Neil Patrick Harris observed that Harold and Kumar could eat a lot. He told Harold and
7 minutes Kumar to go to White Castle and have a competition about who could eat more burgers.
Neil Patrick Harris thought that Kumar could eat the most burgers because he had not
eaten for 24 hours. The two friends bought two Crave Cases (50 burgers each) and began
their competition. Harold ate 37.5 burgers, and Kumar ate 33.25 burgers. Neil Patrick
Harris told the manager of White Castle about their competition.

_8_ Minutes Independent Read the story and then answer the followed questions.
Practice
James and Robert wanted to see who could sell the most CDs in the month of August. In
the month of July, Robert had sold more, so he thought he would win again in August. At
the end of the month, they found that James had sold 2000 CDs and Robert had sold
3500. Robert went on 94.1 and announced to his listeners that he was better than James.
1. What was the question Robert and James wanted to answer?
2. What observation did Robert make?
3. What was Roberts hypothesis?
4. How did they perform the experiment?
5. What was the data?
6. What conclusion can we draw?
7. How did Robert communicate his results?
 Test Read Aloud
Modify/repeat /model Assign preferential seating
instructions Small group testing
Shorten tasks, extra credit Calculators
C.Bracken Increase time allowed for
Extended time; prior notice of
classwork, homework, and
test; allow breaks; provide
T.Reed assistance/cues for transition
tests
Assign peer tutors/work buddies/note
between classes, lockers, takers/scribe
and
home. Increase time allowed for classwork and
Small groupT.Cart
testing tests, homework and projects
_8__ er
Provide small group Exit slip:
Modify assignments (as needed)
instruction, specified seating
Extended time; Small Group Administration
Minutes
Differentiation
Test Read Aloud, Small group testing Match the parts of the Scientific Method with the parts of the experiment.
Calculators
Modify/repeat directions
D.Latim
instruction Assessment/Eval Question
Provide small groupProvide small group instruction, Assign
preferential seating, modify and repeat d. Experiment g. Communicate
ore Assistive Technology (Calculator)
Partners uation
for guided
Increase time
practice D.Fost
allowed for classwork and tests Observation
directions
willtests,
be paired
Increase
heterogeneously
time allowed for classwork and e. Data
so that higher-level students can assist lower level
Assign preferential seating er Hypothesis
homework and projects
f. Conclusion
students.
M.Jones
Tiersmall 3 students
instruction, allow will
Modify/repeat/model directions
Provide group breaks complete
Test
a different
Read Aloud
Calculators Small Independent Practice worksheet than other students.
group testing, Extra
time-tests
Test Read Aloud, Small group testing, Extended time.
Assistive Technology (Calculator, Dictionary) 1. Fred found that 57 students liked Skittles and 83 liked Starbursts
Assign preferential seating, small group
D.Hat instruction.
Modifications/Accommodations
Test Read Aloud
field Extra time-tests, Small group testing,
Calculator 2. Fred told Ms. Brown about his results. 5. Fred
wondered whether KST students preferred Skittles or Starbursts.

3. Fred surveyed 140 students at KST. 6. Fred thought

that more students liked Skittles than Starbursts.

_2__ Follow- Homework in packet In the space below, create your own story that covers ALL 7 STEPS
Minutes up/activities/home of the Scientific Method. Make sure someone can read it and pick out all the steps.
work

Modifications / Differentiated Instruction:

Also, note that some students will prefer to draw the figures and not use the materials given. This should be allowed. However, if students are
having trouble drawing the figures, they should be encouraged to use the manipulative materials provided.

Evaluation (Formative and/or Summative Assessment)

Students will complete an exit slip matching steps of the scientific method to steps in a given story. Students matching at least 5/7 steps correctly
will receive a mastery sticker on the GLE tracker. Students scoring lower than 5/7 will receive remedial work/attention from me throughout the unit
to prepare for mastering the unit test.

Exit slip:
Match the parts of the Scientific Method with the parts of the experiment.
Question d. Experiment g. Communicate
Observation e. Data
Hypothesis f. Conclusion
5. Fred found that 57 students liked Skittles and 83 liked Starbursts

6. Fred told Ms. Brown about his results. 5. Fred

wondered whether KST students preferred Skittles or Starbursts.

7. Fred surveyed 140 students at KST. 6. Fred thought

that more students liked Skittles than Starbursts.

8. Fred decided that more students liked Starbursts than Skittles. 7. Fred
noticed a lot of Skittles wrappers in the garbage cans at KST.

Closure
Randomly ask couple of students to list the seven steps of the scientific method.
Homework in packet In the space below, create your own story that covers ALL 7 STEPS of the Scientific Method. Make sure someone can read
it and pick out all the steps.

Worksheets

First and Last Name: ___________________ College: __________________

Physical Science Unit 1 Science as Inquiry Packet!

This packet contains the:
o Catalysts
o Guided notes
o Guided and Independent practice worksheets
o Homework assignments
o Lab Reports

for Unit 1. Treat it like you would a science textbook-make sure to bring it to class (in your binder)
everyday!
Introduction to the Scientific Method Date: ______________
Objective:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Catalyst:
1. What does it mean to you to think like a scientist?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________
2. In your own words, what is the Scientific Method? Why do we use it?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________
3. What are two experiments you would like to conduct in your science lab later in the year?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*M&Ms Intro
What is the Scientific Method?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________

Steps of the Scientific Method:

1.______________________________________ 5. __________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________ 6. __________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________ 7. __________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________
How do we remember all 7 steps?
Q ________________________ Q _________________
R_________________________ O____________ R______________________ O__________________
H_________________________ H__________________
E_________________________ E___________________
D_________________________ D___________________
C_________________________ C___________________
C_________________________ C___________________
LEFT
RIGHT

Parts of the Scientific Method- USE COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!

Now, can YOU name the steps?
Larry wonders whether a baseball or a tennis ball will bounce higher. He guesses that it will be the tennis ball.
Larry takes both balls outside, and holds them at the same height. He drops each one, and measures the distance it
bounces. The tennis ball bounces 10 inches, and the baseball bounces 4 inches. Larry looks at these measurements,
and decides that his hypothesis was correct the tennis ball bounces higher. He runs inside to tell his mom what he
found.
1. Q_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. R&O____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. H_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. E_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. D____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. C_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. C____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Neil Patrick Harris observed that Harold and Kumar could eat a lot. He told Harold and Kumar to go to White Castle and have
a competition about who could eat more burgers. Neil Patrick Harris thought that Kumar could eat the most burgers because
he had not eaten for 24 hours. The two friends bought two Crave Cases (50 burgers each) and began their competition. Harold
ate 37.5 burgers, and Kumar ate 33.25 burgers. Neil Patrick Harris told the manager of White Castle about their competition.
1. What was the question they tested? _____________________________________________________________________________

2. What observation did Neil Patrick Harris make?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________

3. What was Neil Patrick Harris hypothesis?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________

4. How did they perform their experiment?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________
5. What was the data gathered? ___________________________________________________________________
6. What was the conclusion to the experiment?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
7. How did they communicate their results? _________________________________________________________
*Exit Slip!

Exit slip:
Match
9. the parts
Fred of that
found the Scientific Method
57 students likedwith the and
Skittles parts83
ofliked
the experiment.
Starbursts
Question d. Experiment g. Communicate
Observation
10.Fred told Ms. Browne.about
Data his results. 5. Fred
Hypothesis f. Conclusion
wondered whether KST students preferred Skittles or Starbursts.

11.Fred surveyed 140 students at KST. 6. Fred thought

that more students liked Skittles than Starbursts.

12.Fred decided that more students liked Starbursts than Skittles. 7. Fred
noticed a lot of Skittles wrappers in the garbage cans at KST.
Graded by: _______________________ Scientific Method Homework ( /10)
James and Robert wanted to see who could sell the most CDs in the month of August. In the month of July, Robert had sold
more, so he thought he would win again in August. At the end of the month, they found that James had sold 2000 CDs and
Robert had sold 3500. Robert went on 94.1 and announced to his listeners that he was better than James.
1. What was the question Robert and James wanted to answer? ______________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What observation did Robert make?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________

3. What was Roberts hypothesis? _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

4. How did they perform the experiment? ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What was the data? ___________________________________________________________________________

6. What conclusion can we draw? __________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

7. How did Robert communicate his results? _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

BONUS! In the space below, create your own story that covers ALL 7 STEPS of the Scientific Method. ( /5)
Make sure someone can read it and pick out all the steps.