2.4 Practicing the Scientific Method
This is a middle school agricultural science lesson plan (Lesson MS.AST.2.4, “Practicing the Scientific Method”) from the Pork Checkoff Middle School Food and Agricultural Literacy Curriculum. Students learn and apply the five steps of the scientific research method—observation, question, hypothesis, test, and conclusion—through a hands-on bubble gum lab that compares two gum brands. The lesson includes a teacher narrative, lab report, transparencies, and a grading rubric.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
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- As a result of this unit the students will… Discuss agricultural research.
- As a result of this lesson the students will… Explain the five steps involved in scientific research method.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 60 minutes
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
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- Overhead projector/transparencies
- Small pieces of wax paper – two per group
- Meter long piece of string – one per group
- Meter stick – one per group
- Two different pieces of bubble gum labeled A and B per group
- MS.AST.2.4.AS.A – one per student
- MS.AST.2.4.TM.A – one per teacher
- MS.AST.2.4.TM.B – one per teacher
- MS.AST.2.4.TM.C – one per teacher
- MS.AST.2.4.RUBRIC.A – one per teacher
- Precepts
- M. Communication; M4. Communicates appropriately with co-workers and supervisors.
- Key Terms
- Scientific Method, Observation, Question, Hypothesis, Test, Conclusion
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- CS.11.01.01.cDemonstrate procedures and a conceptual understanding of scientific investigation.
- CS.11.02.01.bImplement an experimental design to test a formulated hypothesis.
- NL-ENG.K-12.4Communication Skills
- NS.5-8.1Science as Inquiry