Ready-Set-Go STEM Activities – Science Scientific Method
Scientific Method
Connection to BSA STEM Awards
This activity helps youth to complete Requirements 1 and 2 of the Cub Scout Science Belt Loop.
Content Notes
§ The basic idea here is to create a science “station” where kids come to learn about the scientific method and how it is used in conducting science experiments. The station could have experiments for all grade levels in a pack or just those in a den. All of the experiments here are sinking and floating experiments, just for different grade levels.
§ There isn’t one single gold standard for describing the “scientific method”. This set of activities uses a version of the scientific method found on First Grade Shenanigans, a blog hosted by Dawn Hilburn (see http://firstgradeshenanigans.blogspot.com/2011/07/scientific-method.html). See her blog to download her Scientific Method poster elements, to either make your own poster or to have the children make the poster. Ms. Hilburn graciously gave permission to borrow and adapt her scientific method experiment worksheet design.
§ The Sinking and Floating Experiments for first graders are adapted from materials at http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/floatingplaydough.html. (The intention is for kids to do both experiments, one after the other, since the second experiment informs the results of the first.)
§ The Salt Water experiment for second and third graders is adapted from materials at http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/salt-water-egg.html.
§ The Soap experiments for third-fifth graders are adapted from materials at http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/does-soap-float/. (The intention is for kids to do both experiments, one after the other, since the second experiment informs the results of the first.)
§ Optional: The Scientific Method – Fun Activities pages help kids to build the language skills they need to discuss the scientific method with others. The jumble is appropriate for 1st graders. The word search is best for 2nd graders and above. The crossword puzzle is best for 3rd graders and above. These make good take-home activities.
Get Ready
§ For the Sinking and Floating experiments, you will need for each child:
o a small bowl filled with water
o a small ball of clay (party favor sized Playdough tubs work well)
o paper/cloth towels (the clay will need to be dried off between experiments 1 and 2)
o nearby source of additional water, to re-set the experiment between groups of kids
o Optional: Scientific Method poster nearby, experiment worksheets, pencils, clipboards
§ For the Salt Water experiment, you will need for each group of 2-3 children:
o 3 identical jars, filled respectively with 10 oz, 20 oz, and 30 oz of water (mason jars work well – fill them once with the right amount and put a piece of masking tape on them lined up with the surface of the water – label the masking tape with the water amount – this makes it easy to re-set the experiment in-between groups of kids and helps the kids know how much water is in each jar.)
o 3 hard boiled eggs
o 3 plastic bowls (holding vessels for the eggs in between floating tests)
o 3 soup/serving spoons (for handling the eggs)
o 3 medium tubs of salt (you need a LOT of salt: ¾ - 1 cup for a full pass through all three jars in the experiment)
o 3 1-Tbsp scoops or measuring spoons, parked in the salt tubs
o nearby source of additional water, to re-set the experiment between groups of kids
o Optional: Scientific Method poster nearby, experiment worksheets, pencils, clipboards
§ For the Soap experiments, you will need for each child:
o a medium bowl filled with water
o 4 different brands of bar soap, including the original formula of Ivory soap. (Without the original formula Ivory, this experiment does not work.) The same bar of soap can be used over and over by different kids.
o 4 plastic bowls (holding vessels for the soap in between experiments)
o nearby source of additional water, to re-set the experiment between groups of kids
o paper plates, a nearby microwave oven, and pot holders for handling hot soap
o Optional: Scientific Method poster nearby, experiment worksheets, pencils, clipboards
§ Optional: make the Scientific Methods poster (download from First Grade Shenanigans at the link above) or print out the pieces to have the kids make the poster.
§ Optional: print out the experiment pages for kids to fill in as they complete the steps of each experiment. The experiments are just as fun without these, but they help keep kids focused and reinforce the steps of the scientific method.
§ Highly Recommended: do the experiments yourself before having the children do them. This helps you identify problem areas, safety issues, and best strategies for directing the activity.
Get Set
§ If you have it, set up your poster near your station.
§ Set up the experiment(s) you plan to do at this station.
o For the Sinking and Floating experiments, try to set materials out for 3-4 children to work alongside one another simultaneously.
o For the Salt Water experiment, if you expect to have groups of 3 children at a time, then one set of three jars plus the related materials will do.
o For the Soap experiments, make sure that the bars of soap and their brands don’t get mixed up.
§ If you are using the experiment worksheets, have them as well as pencils and possibly clipboards nearby.
§ Make sure that you have one adult leader or parent to staff each experiment (or set of experiments). An adult leader or parent can be given a 5-minute orientation to the experiment(s) he/she will direct, including what to expect, how it ties to the scientific method, and how to begin.
Go!
§ Each child who comes to this station should be directed to the age-appropriate experiment(s).
§ The adult leader for any experiment can introduce it by saying, “Science always begins with a question,” and go from there to the specifics of that experiment.
§ The kids should be engaged in hands-on action the vast majority of the time during these experiments. These are not intended to be demonstrations by adults with kids watching. The intention is “learning by doing”. The adult leaders should only be doing a part of the experiment if there is a safety issue.
§ If you are using the experiment worksheets, make sure the children write their names on their worksheets before beginning the experiment.
§ Ideally, the kids should help with the clean-up and re-setting of the experiment(s) for the next group.
§ If you are using them, you can give each child one or more of the Scientific Method Fun Activities pages as a take-home.