1. Purpose and Hypothesis
STEM Fair:
Purpose and Hypothesis
How can we use our research to create a testable question?
Power point is to provide pacing. The lesson plan template provides the specific details.

2. What’s the Purpose?
Scientists always have a reason behind their experiments, which is called the purpose. The purpose is more than just restating the question—it should explain why the question is being explored and who may benefit from the information that may be gained
AT: 7-10 min
This is a reminder for students… Have them recall how they came up with a purpose in the mock lesson. In other words, why does this investigation matter? And who would benefit or be helped by me finding the answer to my question?
Students should refer back to their logs from the mock lesson.
Log stop: What is the purpose of our STEM Fair experiment? Who will benefit from this information? Please remember to title this section “purpose.” Don’t forget to add the date too!

3. Sample Log: The Purpose
AT: 1-2 min
This was the sample that was used in the mock lesson. Students may want to turn to their journals and recall what they wrote down in the mock lesson. Review the components of this log entry. Titled ”purpose” and dated… Along with thoughts of how the investigation would answer the questions as well as who would benefit from this investigation. Allow students to share their ideas with others and then share out their purpose statements. As they are sharing out, guide them to the paragraph above that states the reason and who will be helped. Give students some time (depends on student needs) to create their purpose statement in their logs. Then have them read virbatim to their partners their statements to ensure that what they have written makes sense.

4. STEM Fair The Purpose The Purpose
Reflection: Why is my experiment important?
Who will benefit from the data and information that I gather in my investigation?
What additional questions do you still have?
Why did you select this topic?
Have students glue the topic/ reflection form into their log

5. STEM Fair The Purpose The Purpose The purpose of my experiment is:
Why did you select this topic?
Have students glue the topic/ reflection form into their log

6. Process Skill Connection: Predicting and Hypothesizing
Making a Hypothesis
When we make a hypothesis we write what we believe will happen supported by a “because statement” based on our research. We must include evidence from our research to justify our thinking when we write a hypothesis
Based on our research, the friction between the object and the ramp and the distance the object will travel will affect how quickly it travels down the ramp. A higher ramp will create less friction between the object and the ramp and the linear distance from the start and the end of the ramp will be shorter than a lower ramp causing the object to go faster.
Read the BOLD statement above and remind students that this is the hypthesis that we created together in the mock lesson. Our statement of what we thought would happen was based on research.
Students should refer back to their logs from the mock lesson.
They will need to have their research available and ideas of what they predict/expect to happen after reading and understanding the research that they found.
Log Stop: Record the hypothesis in your log. Explain what makes this a good hypothesis. Make sure to title this entry “hypothesis” and include the date!

7. Sample Log: Recording our Hypothesis
AT: 1-2 min

8. Divide the class into 4 groups
Divide the class into 4 groups. Use the two scenarios so that two groups have the same and the other two groups have the same scenarios. The purpose is to see if they are coming up with the same hypothesis. Chances are they will come up with something close but not the same. The point is that they are using the research to create their statement. Students should be reminded that they are using information that they know to create a statement, although it is OKAY if by the end of the investigation they find their hypothesis was wrong.
After groups have had time to talk and create a hypothesis, put the groups that had the same scenario together to discuss what they said and why. They should be using information from the research statements to base their hypothesis statements. Then, have each group share with the class.

9. Self Assessment
Use this rubric to decide how you feel about making a hypothesis for your STEM project
Have students use the Self-Assessment Rubric to determine how they feel about writing their hypothesis. If they rate themselves a 1 or 2, conference with them to provide the feedback that they need in order to write their hypothesis statement based on the research the provided.

10. STEM Fair: HYPOTHESIS Hypothesis Reflection:
Based on my research, ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I think _______________ will happen, because, ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Why did you select this topic?
Have students glue the topic/ reflection form into their log