Intro Unit Notebook Guide
Essential Question:
*How can we think like scientists and use the
scientific method to solve problems?
Guiding Question:
*What are the components of a well-designed
experiment?
BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
#3 Brainstorm: Brain Questions (Sm. Group)
#5 Notes: Hypothesis
#6 Experiment Description: Small group brain
question
#7 Notes: Scientific Method
#9 Practice: Sci. Method Experiment #2
#10 Observations: Mad Minute Data
#11 Notes: TAIL and Types of Graphs
#12 Practice: Writing a conclusion
#13 Graph Eval: Mad Minute Data (Sm. Group)
#17 Practice: Data Summary (Sm Group graphs)
#18 Data/Graph: Numbers/Letters
#19 Brainstorm: Data Summary/Conclusion for
Numbers and Letters Lab
#20/21 Activity: Measurement Lab (stations)
#22/23 Rough Draft: Paper Towel Lab
C/2 = Basic foundation, solid understanding of
concepts covered in class, all of the basic
assignments are included, although more depth is
needed to go beyond just scratching the surface.
35 36 37 38 39 / 50
D/1 = Not enough work to show understanding,
can’t read/find assignments, missing one or more
basic assignments
30 31 32 33 34 / 50
Name_________________________Per___
APPLICATION/DEEP UNDERSTANDING
#2 Background Info (Feedback grade)
9/4 Brain Experiment
Questions and background research
Hmwk: Additional background info research
9/5 Notes: Hypothesis
Demo: Candle
*Research a brain question
*Cite your sources and take notes
9/8 Sm Group: Brain Experiment Design
Notes: Scientific Method
#4 Candle Demo:
9/9 Practice: Sci Method Experiment #2
Hmwk: Design an Experiment (Due 9/11)
*Create a technical drawing of the candle demo
*Write observations
*Explain the science behind what you observed
#8 Design an Experiment: (Feedback Grade)
*Follow the instructions on the hand out you glued
to p. 8
#14/15 Mad Minute Experiment Write Up
(Feedback grade, small group evaluation)
*Follow the lab template for your write up
#16 Individual Graph Summary
*Pick one of the graphs from sm group activity
*What does the graph show? What “story” is
the most important/relevant?
A/4 = Deep scientific thinking shown in all
assignments including connections between
assignments and science concepts as well as
connections outside the classroom are included.
Evidence of these connections are shown with
highlighting (include a key) or connections boxes or
post-it notes. 45 46 47 48 49 50 / 50
B/3 = All basic assignments are included and
show depth of understanding beyond the “bare
minimum”; “deep digging” assignments are included
but more detail could be added to show greater
understanding/connections. 40 41 42 43 44/50
9/10 Observations: Mad Minute Data
Notes: TAIL/Graph Types
9/11 Sm Group Eval: Mad Minute Graphs
Practice: Writing a Conclusion
Hmwk: Mad Minute Write Up (Due 9/16)
9/12 Practice: Data Summary(sm groups)
Individual Graph Summary
9/15 Data/Graph: Numbers/Letters Lab
Brainstorm: Data Summary/conclusion
Hmwk: Finish Lab to prep(Feedback Quiz 9/17)
Work on Notebook (Due 9/19)
9/16 Activity: Measurement Lab (Stations)
9/17 Numbers/Letters Feedback Quiz
Unit Assessment: Paper Towel Lab
Question, background info, hypothesis
9/18 Unit Assessment: Paper Towel Lab
Collect data, graphs, conclusion
9/19 Brain Notebooks are due
Intro Unit Test
Hmwk: Paper Towel Lab (Due 9/23)
Intro Unit Learning Targets
Knowledge
Targets
“What I
need to
know”
__ Scientific Method components
and the structure for each
__ Independent vs dependent
variables
__ experiments require multiple
trials
__ TAIL graphing elements
__ Graph types, pros and cons
Reasoning
Targets
“What I
understand
with what I
know”
__ the difference between a good
question and a question that will
lead to a good experiment
__ the if-then-because format for
creating a hypothesis
__ which types of graphs best
represent various types of data
__ why multiple trials result in a
more accurate experiment
__ the most important “story” to
tell about my data
__ a conclusion should explain
the “why” behind the data using
science concepts
__ Design an experiment using
the scientific method
__ Use metric measurement in a
lab setting
__ Create a visual representation
of data
__ Summarize data in writing
__ Write conclusions that explain
the science behind my data
__ A formal lab report that
includes each component of the
scientific method (Paper Towel
Lab)
Skill
Targets
“What I can
do”
Product
Targets
“What I can
make to
show my
learning”