We will be spending the first half of the school year learning about the defining characteristics of life; the five kingdoms of life, with a particular focus on the plant and animal kingdoms; genetics; and adaptations. Three weeks into the school year, we will be traveling to e-camp for a hands-on exploration and investigation of many of the concepts of plant and animal life that we will be learning in class.
Throughout the year, we will conduct lab experiments in class. Students will keep a science journal to note their observations and learn the steps to writing a science lab report. We will begin the year by learning how to write good hypothesis statements. The format for the lab reports are listed below.
Throughout the year, we will conduct lab experiments in class. Students will keep a science journal to note their observations and learn the steps to writing a science lab report. We will begin the year by learning how to write good hypothesis statements. The format for the lab reports are listed below.
Science Curriculum
Here is our Science Unit:
Earth Science
Earth Science: Materials and Energy Resources
1.) Minerals:
Explain: What is a mineral? Explore the physical properties of minerals and understand the test for those.
2.) Rocks:
Identify and explain the three categories of rocks and the processes that create them. Understand that rocks are composed of minerals.
Earth Science: Earth Cycles and Processes
3.) Soil:
Understand that soil is formed by the weathering of rock and the decomposition of plant and animal remains.
The properties of soil include color, texture, and the abilities to retain water and support growth of plants.
Earth Science
Earth Science: Materials and Energy Resources
1.) Minerals:
Explain: What is a mineral? Explore the physical properties of minerals and understand the test for those.
2.) Rocks:
Identify and explain the three categories of rocks and the processes that create them. Understand that rocks are composed of minerals.
Earth Science: Earth Cycles and Processes
3.) Soil:
Understand that soil is formed by the weathering of rock and the decomposition of plant and animal remains.
The properties of soil include color, texture, and the abilities to retain water and support growth of plants.
Writing a hypothesis statement:
A hypothesis is a statement that is based on a question. Your statement should be written in such a way that it is easy to test. Your goal in your experiment is to try to prove or dis-prove your hypothesis. The hypothesis is based on a topical question. For example, "Will a strange substance grow on my food if I leave it out for a week?" Your hypothesis is: A strange substance will grow on my food if it is left uncovered and unfridgerated for one week.
Writing your lab report findings:
Here is an outline on writing a findings paragraph:
1.) Look at your notes from your data: four days of observations.
2.) Identify the most important changes that you observed. Highlight them on your graphic organizer (example: black dots with fuzz; white flaky substance; large green dot).
Identify other observations that are not important (example: bad smell). Lightly cross them out with a pencil. You may still need that information so don't block it out!
3.) Summarize the changes that you observed over the four days for your "most important" observations. What changes occurred? How do you know? What happened?
You need an opening sentence, and 3-5 sentences summarizing your most important data.
Remember, you are only summarizing the data. This should only be a statement of fact.
1.) Look at your notes from your data: four days of observations.
2.) Identify the most important changes that you observed. Highlight them on your graphic organizer (example: black dots with fuzz; white flaky substance; large green dot).
Identify other observations that are not important (example: bad smell). Lightly cross them out with a pencil. You may still need that information so don't block it out!
3.) Summarize the changes that you observed over the four days for your "most important" observations. What changes occurred? How do you know? What happened?
You need an opening sentence, and 3-5 sentences summarizing your most important data.
Remember, you are only summarizing the data. This should only be a statement of fact.
Writing your lab report conclusion:
Here is an outline on writing a conclusion paragraph:
Sentence 1.) Opening statement that describes why you conducted an experiment to test your hypothesis. You need to clearly state your hypothesis.
Sentence 2.) "Using ___(list your materials) ________, we collected data on _(What were you looking for? Changes to the food materials.) over the course of ____(time period: how many days).
Sentence 3-5.) I observed... (Summarize your "Findings," which is based on your data in 1-3 sentences. What significant data did you observe? What changed? How do you know? How does it directly link to your hypothesis?)
*Sentence 6.) IF you stated something specific in your hypothesis such as "mold" or "fungus", you need to make a connection from your experiment to your hypothesis. How do you know it is mold or fungus? You will need to research this an provide a specific example that further proves or disproves your hypothesis. Remember to list your source!!
Concluding Sentence.) Your concluding sentence: Did you prove your hypothesis or not? Why or why not?
REMEMBER! This is summarizing your entire experiment. You need to connect your findings to your hypothesis.
Sentence 1.) Opening statement that describes why you conducted an experiment to test your hypothesis. You need to clearly state your hypothesis.
Sentence 2.) "Using ___(list your materials) ________, we collected data on _(What were you looking for? Changes to the food materials.) over the course of ____(time period: how many days).
Sentence 3-5.) I observed... (Summarize your "Findings," which is based on your data in 1-3 sentences. What significant data did you observe? What changed? How do you know? How does it directly link to your hypothesis?)
*Sentence 6.) IF you stated something specific in your hypothesis such as "mold" or "fungus", you need to make a connection from your experiment to your hypothesis. How do you know it is mold or fungus? You will need to research this an provide a specific example that further proves or disproves your hypothesis. Remember to list your source!!
Concluding Sentence.) Your concluding sentence: Did you prove your hypothesis or not? Why or why not?
REMEMBER! This is summarizing your entire experiment. You need to connect your findings to your hypothesis.