Unit 1 (Scientific Skills), Day 5

Experimental Design

Catalyst Expectations

Done in your notebook silently Date 8/30

Catalyst Question Why do we sleep? Why do we dream? Why are we ticklish? Why do we smile? Why do we yawn? Why are there lefties and righties?

Science The previous questions have not yet

been answered by science

New Seating Chart Find a Seat

Mrs. Larkin will tell you the new seats when class begins

Catalyst

Expectations

Done silently

Date your page 9/3 or 9/4

The Tortoise and the Hare - Graphing

The tortoise and the hare have a race against each other.

The tortoise walks at a slow but consistent pace. The

hare runs quickly, takes a long break, runs quickly, takes

a long break, etc. Eventually, the tortoise wins (slow and

steady wins the race!). Graph the distance vs. time

showing the tortoise and the hare.

How Does Science Answer Questions? Scientific Method

Example Dead Sea

What do we observe? What is the question?

How Does Science Answer Questions Hypothesis Experiment

Example Dead Sea

What is the hypothesis? What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable?

How Does Science Answer Questions Experimental Design

Example Dead Sea

Which sample was the control group? Which samples were the experimental groups? What were the constants?

How Does Science Answer Questions Results

Example Dead Sea

How did we collect data? How did we organize data? How will we analyze data?

Collecting and Organizing Data

Analyzing Data

Project

Title: Too Fly for Junior High

Unit: #1 – Scientific Skills

Driving Question: How can we, as scientists,

use the scientific method to create the furthest

flying paper airplane?

Description: This project has three phases

First Due Date: Friday 9/6: Best airplane design

Phase 1: Students will research five different paper airplane

models and determine which flies the furthest. Constraints:

students may only use 8.5” by 11” computer paper.

Phase 2: Students will modify their best paper airplane in a single

MEASURABLE way. They will create 5 models that incrementally

change this measurable part. Constraints: cardstock, glue, tape,

paper clips.

Phase 3: Students will design the paper airplane to reflect their

personalities and to appeal to children. They will market this in a

presentations as a toy. There will be a final race to determine

who has the furthest flying plane. (Best Flight and Best in Show)

Deliverables

Group Deliverables

5 research models (Phase I)

5 scientific method models (Phase 2)

Final Model (Phase 3)

Individual Deliverables

Lab Report

Today’s Task (Phase I) Choose who will be the following:

Designer – In charge of ensuring quality of airplane decoration

Engineer – In charge of ensuring quality of airplane construction

Data Analyst – In charge of ensuring quality of data

If you have a fourth person, additional role Presenter – In charge of organizing presentation

Note: All students are required to participate in all four parts. However, the designated person is the “boss” and delegates work. You will be grading each other on fulfilling the roles!

Today’s Task (Phase I) Research the best paper airplane model You need to try five of them

Break

Homework YouTube Video Notes Paper Airplane Model for Phase 2