Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to ask testable questions, make predictions, and conduct experiments to find answers.
Materials and Prep
- Pen and paper
- Access to a safe outdoor space
- Various household items (e.g., cups, spoons, balls, etc.)
- Internet access (optional for additional research)
Activities
Brainstorm testable questions: Encourage the student to come up with a list of questions that can be answered through experimentation. For example, "Does the temperature of water affect how quickly it evaporates?" or "Does the height from which a ball is dropped affect its bounce?". Write down the questions as they come up.
Predict outcomes: Once you have a list of testable questions, ask the student to make predictions about what they think will happen in each experiment. Have them write down their predictions next to each question.
Conduct experiments: Choose one or two questions from the list and guide the student through designing and conducting experiments to find answers. Use the available materials and the outdoor space. Make sure to record observations and results during the experiments.
Discuss findings: After completing the experiments, sit down with the student and review the observations and results. Compare them to the initial predictions and discuss any discrepancies. Encourage critical thinking and reflection on why certain outcomes occurred.
Expand knowledge: If time allows, encourage the student to research further on the topic of their choice. They can use the internet or books to find additional information and share their findings with you.
Talking Points
"Science is all about asking questions and finding answers through experiments."
"Testable questions are those that can be answered through experimentation or observation."
"Making predictions is a way to guess what might happen in an experiment before actually doing it."
"When conducting experiments, it's important to keep track of your observations and results."
"Comparing your predictions to the actual outcomes can help you understand why certain things happen."
"Researching further on a topic can expand your knowledge and help you discover new things."