Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will understand the basic steps of the Scientific Method and how to apply them in a fun and engaging way. The student will learn to ask questions, make predictions, conduct simple experiments, and draw conclusions based on their observations.
Materials and Prep
- Paper
- Colored crayons or markers
- A small container of water
- A few different types of small objects (like a coin, a leaf, a toy, etc.)
- A towel (for spills)
Before the lesson, make sure to gather the materials and find a clean space for the activities. Explain to the student that today they will be a scientist!
Activities
-
Question Time:
Start by asking the student a fun question, like "What happens if we put a toy in water?" Encourage them to think of their own questions too. Write down their questions on paper.
-
Make a Prediction:
Once you have some questions, ask the student to make a guess about what they think will happen. For example, "Do you think the toy will float or sink?" Write down their predictions.
-
Experiment Time:
Now it’s time to test the predictions! Let the student drop the objects into the water one by one and observe what happens. Encourage them to describe what they see.
-
Draw and Share:
After the experiment, ask the student to draw a picture of what they did and what they saw. Then, let them share their findings with you.
Talking Points
- "Do you know what a scientist does? They ask questions and try to find answers!"
- "What do you think will happen if we put this toy in the water? That’s called a prediction!"
- "Let’s see if your prediction is right! What do you think will happen when we drop it in?"
- "Wow! Look at that! What did you see? Can you tell me what happened?"
- "Now that we did our experiment, what can we say about what we learned? You did great!"