Details
Pages
12 Pages
Subject
Chemistry, Environment & Ecology, Physical Science
Languages
English
Product
Digital
Grade
8th, 9th, 10th
Resource Type
Activities, Laboratory, Lesson Plans
Standard
Next Generation Science Standards
Description
The scientific Attitudes lab is an in-person hands on lab activity I do the first day of class which demonstrates the scientific attitudes of curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, creativity, and communication. The student handout provides background information on each attitude as well as the procedures for carrying out the investigation. Materials are provided in PowerPoint, Word, PDF, Google Doc, Google Form, and Blackboard. Note that the Google Form and the Google Doc files are accessed by links in the Teacher Notes and Answer Key document.
If you are using the blackboard file, make sure not to open the zipped file named blackboard. This file is to be directly loaded into the LMS as it is. The PowerPoint has some background information and introduces the lab.
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In the lab, students are given a variety of powders and liquids and their task is to act like a scientist and experiment. How often are students told they can just mix things together and see what happens? Never " except in this lab. That is the entire purpose. Let them be curious, let them communicate one of their discoveries with another group. That group may then be skeptical about the other group's claims, but they are open-minded enough to try it out. Students can be creative and mix multiple combinations together. The kids really enjoy this lab because they get to mix together whatever they want. At the end of the lab, the students replenish the materials so it is ready for the next class or the next year.
Most of the materials are readily available in a normal science classroom. The only things you may not have on hand are phenolphthalein solution and sodium polyacrylate which is a superabsorbent polymer. But no fear, you can just get some diapers and cut them up and separate out the powder. One diaper produces enough for 2-3 groups. The chemistry teacher probably has phenolphthalein solution (a base indicator) but if not, you could just replace it with another liquid like vegetable oil. You probably have everything else in your lab or your kitchen. This lab can also be completed at home with home school students with the substitutions mentioned above.
The teachers resource page includes complete instructions and answers to all the questions. There is also a 10 question multiple choice assessment included that is available as a Word doc, Google Form or blackboard file for use in Schoology or other LMS. Note that the Blackboard file is a zipped file within the folder and is intended to be uploaded directly into an LMS like Schoology. The first five questions are recall questions asking students to pick the correct attitude based on the definition from the background. Questions 6-10 are application questions where students are given a brief scenario and asked to identify which attitude is demonstrated. I include this because it automatically grades student responses and puts them right in the gradebook. Sometimes, I use the short answer questions in the post lab analysis as discussion points and then have students complete the multiple-choice assessment at the end which means there is no grading for me " Yay!
If you are using the blackboard file, make sure not to open the zipped file named blackboard. This file is to be directly loaded into the LMS as it is. The PowerPoint has some background information and introduces the lab.
---------------------------------------------------------
In the lab, students are given a variety of powders and liquids and their task is to act like a scientist and experiment. How often are students told they can just mix things together and see what happens? Never " except in this lab. That is the entire purpose. Let them be curious, let them communicate one of their discoveries with another group. That group may then be skeptical about the other group's claims, but they are open-minded enough to try it out. Students can be creative and mix multiple combinations together. The kids really enjoy this lab because they get to mix together whatever they want. At the end of the lab, the students replenish the materials so it is ready for the next class or the next year.
Most of the materials are readily available in a normal science classroom. The only things you may not have on hand are phenolphthalein solution and sodium polyacrylate which is a superabsorbent polymer. But no fear, you can just get some diapers and cut them up and separate out the powder. One diaper produces enough for 2-3 groups. The chemistry teacher probably has phenolphthalein solution (a base indicator) but if not, you could just replace it with another liquid like vegetable oil. You probably have everything else in your lab or your kitchen. This lab can also be completed at home with home school students with the substitutions mentioned above.
The teachers resource page includes complete instructions and answers to all the questions. There is also a 10 question multiple choice assessment included that is available as a Word doc, Google Form or blackboard file for use in Schoology or other LMS. Note that the Blackboard file is a zipped file within the folder and is intended to be uploaded directly into an LMS like Schoology. The first five questions are recall questions asking students to pick the correct attitude based on the definition from the background. Questions 6-10 are application questions where students are given a brief scenario and asked to identify which attitude is demonstrated. I include this because it automatically grades student responses and puts them right in the gradebook. Sometimes, I use the short answer questions in the post lab analysis as discussion points and then have students complete the multiple-choice assessment at the end which means there is no grading for me " Yay!
The scientific Attitudes lab is an in-person hands on lab activity I do the first day of class which demonstrates the scientific attitudes of curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, creativity, and communication. The student handout provides background information on each attitude as... more