Science Experiment Project – Primary Research
Hello Everyone!
Part of having personal POWER as an educated citizen of the world means:
- Knowing how to do research,
- Becoming more knowledgeable so we can be the best critical thinkers,
- Learning how to ask questions and to analyze things, and
- Making decisions and conclusions based on evidence.
So, to that end, we are learning how to do our own research in science. To do this, we are focusing on:
- What is primary versus secondary research? (Did I do it myself, or did I read about it somewhere?)
- What does primary research look like? (An interview, survey, experiment, observations, etc.)
- What is the scientific method?
- Why do scientists use the scientific method?
- Why do scientists do careful documentation of experiments?
Students have the scientific method steps in their binders, and we applied them to two labs so far, both about chemical reactions. We will continue doing a series of experiments in class to practice writing up labs, making careful observations, and analyzing our results.
Next step? Students will need to do their own science experiment. They can do it as an individual or with one partner in the class (someone they have not worked with previously.)
Here are the steps to take to do the project. They need to:
- Pick one lab they think they can do. Pick something easy to do and that uses easy-to-find materials at home. You can make up your own experiment if you prefer, but again, keep it simple! I have provided websites with ideas. Please do not do one we are doing in class. Avoid making slime or things you already did before in previous grades.
- Get the lab approved by Ms. D, so I know what you are doing. Thanks!
- Try the lab at home. Take notes, observations, and a few pictures. Email them to yourself so you have them to work with in class.
- Document the steps in a lab write up using the scientific method.
- As you write your conclusion, you may want to do some additional research to make sure you use science vocabulary or ideas to explain the results.
- Present their results in class. (We will do one day of a mini science fair, where people can bring in their experiments. They don’t need to do the experiment here, but they can bring in the results of it and explain what happened.)
- The only thing required to turn in is: a typed lab write up AND a picture. The lab write up and picture can be on their e-port so we can all see it.
- You may choose to do an experiment that also can be used for your independent project, but it is not required.
- Primary research of some type will be required for IP, but it does not have to be a science experiment. If you do have a science experiment for IP, though, it will need a lab write up. Thank you!
What is Ms. D Looking for?:
- I can document my experiment using the scientific method.
- I can communicate my ideas clearly, both in my lab documentation and in person during our mini science fair.
- I can use critical-thinking skills to analyze the results of an experiment and make a conclusion using science vocabulary.
- I can do some research if needed, to further explain my experiment.
- I can write about my experiment in my e-port to share with the community.
Due Date for the Project: March 12th, Friday
Websites to use for finding a sample experiment (or Google “Easy Science Fair Experiments”):
Fifth Grade Science Experiments, Education.com
Steam Powered Family Experiment Ideas
Science Fair Experiments by Topic
Repeat Science Experiments of Past Scientists