During this Core Experience, students will perform activities and conduct experiments designed to formally introduce students to the process of scientific investigation, common science tools, and properties of objects. Through their explorations, they will come to a better understanding of color, size, shape, texture, and function as properties of objects. In addition, they will discover how observation, measurement, testing, and data analysis serve as the core of the scientific investigation.

Students begin their investigation by learning about the multitude of topics and phenomena that scientists study and several of the components of scientific investigations: observation, measurement, and testing. As a part of the learning process, students will simulate one component of scientific investigation by developing a list of questions and properties about a mystery object that could be explored. As students continue their investigation they will obtain and analyze examples of common science tools. By collecting data about the color, shape, size, and texture of the tools they will begin to understand the importance of observation when conducting experiments and how properties such as color and size serve as descriptive characteristics that can be compared and contrasted. By testing the function of several of the tools students will extend their understanding of the components of scientific investigations. Students will then have the opportunity to report their results through verbal communication and the creation of a bar graph. Comparison of the properties of the science tools through analysis of their observations and graph completes students’ investigation by helping them draw conclusions about the tools’ properties. Students will then have the opportunity to apply their knowledge of the scientific investigative process by finding other objects that possess properties similar to the scientific tools they investigated.

Through experiments, observation, and participation in class discussion, students will begin to comprehend that their natural curiosity, declaration of observations, and desire to explore the world around them are components of the scientific process and the same behaviors possessed and utilized by practicing scientists. This Core Experience will promote students’ awareness of the scientific investigative process and the behaviors they perform on a daily basis, building continuity between laboratory investigations and real-world applications and encouraging independent investigation.

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Beginning Explorations: Teacher’s Video (4:24)

Beginning Explorations: Student’s Video (9:23)

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