Margaret M. Loos
DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXPERIMENT
Objectives:
1. To learn the steps of the scientific method in a real situation.
2. To develop powers of observation.
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3. To learn the difference between an hypothesis and theory and law.
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4. To attempt to construct an experiment to test a possible explanation, eliminating all but one variable.
Teacher Preparation:
Teacher brings in glass enclosed anemometer which has paddles dark on one side and reflective on the other. It should be placed in a sunny spot. She asks the students for any possible explanation of why the paddles move since nothing appears to touch them through the glass. The teacher calls the possible answer a hypothesis. Then she follows this method of development.
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1. State the hypothesis.
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2. Ask student to devise an experiment to test the hypothesis.
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3. List all necessary materials.
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4. List steps of procedure.
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5. Try the experiment, writing down all observations.
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6. Repeat the experiment, noting any variations.
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7. Formulate a theory.
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8. Teacher explains the universality of this way of dealing with a question
scientifically
. Differentiation between hypothesis, theory, and law can be introduced.
Follow Up:
Ask the students to do a of the experiment so that another student can duplicate it exactly, using the following headings:
1. Purpose
2. Materials
3. Steps of procedure
4. Observations
