6th Grade Science

Scientific Exploration

Standards for Criteria and Success

The students will be able to demonstrate inquiring and designing by: (Criterion B)

  • (i.) explaining a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation.
  • (ii.) formulating a testable hypothesis and explain it using scientific reasoning
  • (iii.) explaining how to manipulate the variables and how data will be collected.
  • (iv.) Designing a scientific investigation

The students will be able to demonstrate processing and evaluating by: (Criterion C)

  • (i.) Presenting collected and transformed data.
  • (ii.) Interpreting data and outlining results using scientific reasoning.
  • (iii.) Discussing the validity of a prediction based on the outcome of the scientific investigation
  • (iv.) Discussing the validity and reliability of the method
  • (v.) Describing improvement or extensions to the method.

Product

Students will develop a deeper understanding of the properties of water by designing, conducting, and reflecting on their own scientific investigation. Students will create a logical, complete, and safe method (investigation) that will allow them to collect sufficient data so that the problem or question they created can be answered.

Criterion B

Students will demonstrate their inquiry skills first by explaining a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation and second, by formulating a testable hypothesis that is backed by scientific reasoning.

Students will demonstrate their design skills by using these steps:

  • Use the variables identified in their investigation
  • Outlinehow the data will be collected
  • Design a scientific investigation that can be repeated and reproduced.

Criterion C

Students will demonstrate processing skills by presenting their collected and transformed data using charts and/or graphs. Students will also interpret and summarize their data and outline the results of the scientific investigation. The summary of the data analysis should be in a narrative format using scientific reasoning.

Students will demonstrate their evaluation skills by analyzing the results of their investigation. Based on the outcomes of their investigation, students will discuss the validity of their hypothesis. (Was the hypothesis correct or not correct?)

Students will describe the validity and reliability of their method as well as suggest improvements or extensions for further research.

Once the project has been submitted to the teacher, the students will write a reflection on their personal learning journey as related to this project.

The final project will include the following:

  1. A testable problem/question
  2. A testable hypothesis
  3. Identification of the variables and how they will be manipulated for a valid experiment
  4. Materials list and step by step procedure
  5. Data charts/graphs (Including any processed data)
  6. Interpretation of data and evidence of any patterns or notable observations
  7. Discussion of hypothesis’ validity
  8. Discussion of method’s validity
  9. Suggestions for Improvement (Reflection)
  10. Any sources properly cited (if applicable)

Audience

Spongebob and Patrick have hired you to help them with the overwhelming amount of scientific investigations Bikini Bottom wants to perform. Sandy will be looking over your experiment to determine if it meets her IB standards.

Grade:

Criterion B: _____

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iv.______

Criterion C: _____

i.______

ii.______

iii.______

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v.______

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