Scientific Inquiry Prelude to Chapter 1 First step of the Scientific Method mixed with SOL 6.1: Making Observations. GOAL: SWBAT: Use their senses other then sight to determine objects placed inside a stapled Brown Paper Bag. Students may shake and feel the brown bag to indentify objects. Students will make Hypothesis as to what they believe is inside. Once Hypothesis are made, students will be instructed to open the bag to determine the correctness of their hypothesis.

Scientific Inquiry Is the different ways scientists use to solve questions about the natural world. Scientific Method: One way scientists solve questions about the natural world. There are 8 Steps

First Step of the Scientific Method Posing a Question: Ask about something unknown. Examples: Why is the sky blue? Will it rain on Friday? What will my friends think of my new shirt? Each question is unknown and can be tested. Take a few minutes to write down a Question in your Notebook. Remember their question should be testable. “When is lunch?” Is not a testable question b/c there is no way to test for lunch times.

Second Step of the Scientific Method Forming a Hypothesis: A possible explanation for observations that relate to a scientific explanation. Tested by observations or experiments. “If, then” statements. Example: “If the Sun were to burn out, then life on Earth would not exist.” In your notebook, practice writing a hypothesis.

When forming a Hypothesis… Observation: Using the 5 senses to gather information. Inference: An interpretation based on your observation and prior judgment. Example: You know it’s a coin, but are not sure whether it’s a Nickel or a Penny. Experiment page 5, Beaker, hot plate, water. Heat beaker w/ water until water boils. Ask students to describe what they SEE without using the word Boiling. Say things like: Bubbling, condensation on the sides of the beaker, rising water level, sounds they hear, the temperature being hot. They’re using prior knowledge. (observation and inference). (5 senses + prior knowledge).

Brown Bag Experiment Instructions: Do not Open the Brown Bag. Use your senses of sound and touch to determine the 5 objects in each bag. Record your findings on your worksheet.

After Lab Recap Observations that you made: What did you feel? What did you see? Were you able to use any other senses? Inferences that you made: Coin? Noodle? Paperclip? Q-Tip?