Today's Quote:
Recap:
Yesterday didn't give us much time for science as it was school picture day and it was our turn (science classes) to take students down, but we got there as fast as we could so we could get back to class and learn.
I asked the general question what is science? or why do we do it in the first place? Answered varied and included responses such as "science is technology", (It's not) "Science is a belief in research." (It's not) "Science is the search for answers." (Sort of) The discussion went on as I pointed out that my belief in a guiding force in the universe is a belief. I can hold onto the belief, but science is NOT a belief and it doesn't care what you believe- science relies on facts and evidence.
We engaged in a brief discussion of what science isn't and I introduced the classes to the Lakota word "wanagi"which loosely translates to ghosts. I pointed out that while I believe in ghosts, no matter how much personal evidence or examples I can give them as to why I believe in ghosts, I can't offer them any real scientific evidence that ghosts are real. We called into question TV shows like Ghost Hunters, where they have all that cool technology to prove the existence of ghosts, yet, it's not real science because their results cannot be replicated with any sort of reliability. Therefore the "science of ghost hunting"is actually a pseudo-science. This lead us into the beginning of a discussion of what constitutes evidence.
We tied our discussion from Tuesday in when students completed an entry activity called "Doing Science" which can be found on page 93 of the link. This lead to a very informative discussion of student ideas about what is and isn't science. Most of the classes were leaning toward the idea that all scientists must follow the scientific method. While I didn't tell them the correct answer, I asked why they believed this and they said," ït was how we have always been taught- that there is one method that scientists use to keep themselves organized."
Quick- Notes:
Science is not a belief and doesn't care what you believe. Science relies on facts and evidence.
We do science to help us answer questions about the universe around us. This sometimes leads us to more questions or other observations. The ultimate goal of science is to make sense of our world.
Technology is applied science designed to make our lives easier. For example, a smart phone is technology that was an improvement over a wired house phone. A wired house phone was an improvement over a morse code generator and that was an improvement over shouting over long distances to each other.
Science is based on facts and evidence and these can be observed or replicated under the same circumstances over and over again.
Statement like, "I don't believe in evolution are ridiculous because evolution through natural selection is a fact that is backed up by observations that have been and can be repeated and evidence such as fossils that have been discovered.
Students then began to read the article, What is pseudo-science? The first thing students were tasked with, was to list any words they didn't know. We can't begin to talk about an article unless we're speaking the same language.
Homework was handed out at each grade level.
Required Dataset for graph: ( All classes included in counts)
Architect: 4 Logician: 6 Commander: 3 Debater: 2 Advocate: 17 Mediator: 22 Protagonist: 7 Campaigner: 24 Logistician: 4 Defender: 6 Executive: 4 Consul: 14 Virtuoso: 4 Adventurer: 10 Entrepreneur: 4 Entertainer: 9
Data Set complete!
Brain Bender:
A black dog stands in the middle of an intersection in a town painted completely black. None of the street lights are working due to a power outage caused by a local storm. A car with two broken headlights drives towards the dog but turns in time to avoid hitting him. How could the driver see the dog in time?
Agenda:
(This should be written in your planner every day)
Graphing Basics PowerPoint- student lead discussion- continue on from Scatter plot
1. Discussion: Read the article "What is Pseudoscience What is science? What isn't Science? What looks like science, but really isn't science.
2. Graphing using Google Docs.
How to Use Google Spreadsheet to Make a Graph
4. Discussion of citation and evidence. What is EVIDENCE?
5. The Process of science: Take SELFIES!
Start with an observation or question.
Establish the question.
Look into the topic.
Formulate a hypothesis (and null hypothesis) (If:then, logical, testable
Investigate the hypothesis
Examine the data- draw conclusions, analysis, perform more trials (how many?)
Share your results (why?)
Homework: ALL GRADE LEVELS:
1.Log into Quizlet and do Vocabulary Set 2. Due Thursday or Friday. Note: your vocabulary test will contain terms from each previous week and will ask you to construct and deconstruct words based on those terms. DO NOT STOP STUDYING PREVIOUS SETS!
2. 6th grade graphing w parent help. Due Thursday and Friday 7th grade graphing w parent helpDue Thursday and Friday 8th-grade graphing w parent help Due Thursday and Friday
6th Grade Honor's Earth Space Science:
6th Grade Class Information and Syllabus
Unit Essential Question:
What are the basic ideas behind the process of science?
Key Learning Statement:
Science is a process based upon observational and experimental studies using scientific methods to develop or explore scientific theories or laws.
7th Grade Honors Life Science
7th Grade Class Information and Syllabus
Unit Essential Question: What methods do scientists use to answer questions and solve problems in the natural world?
Key Learning Statement: Scientific inquiry involves forming a testable hypothesis and developing a valid investigation using scientific skills and tools to determine if the hypothesis is supported or not supported. Data from scientific investigations helps scientists explain natural events through the use of scientific theories and scientific laws.
8th Grade Honors Physical Science
Unit Essential Question: What is required to carry out a valid scientific investigation?
Key Learning Statement: A valid scientific investigation uses prior knowledge, observations, and empirical evidence to test a hypothesis and draw conclusions that must be validated through repetition and replication.
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