C1 Investigate: What conditions
do woodlice like?
Lesson planning
guide
Learning objectives
i
Carry out a full investigation.
ii
Learn more about an organism and its habitat.
Scientific enquiry
iii
Identify and control the key factors that are relevant to a particular situation. (Framework YTO Sc1 7c)
iv
Select and use appropriate equipment to collect information about habitats. (Framework YTO Sc1 7d)
v
Use repeat measurements to reduce error and check reliability. (Framework YTO Sc1 7e)
vi
Present and interpret experimental results. (Framework YTO Sc1 7f)
vii
Describe and explain what results show when drawing conclusions. (Framework YTO Sc1 7g)
viii Evaluate the strength of evidence, e.g. indicate whether increasing the sample would have strengthened the conclusions. (Framework
YTO Sc1 7h)
Suggested alternative starter activities (5–10 minutes)
Setting the context
Introduce the
apparatus
Safety
Brainstorming (1)
Brainstorming (2)
Discuss with pupils what
living things need from a
habitat to survive.
Show pupils the
apparatus available for
the investigation.
Guidelines about working
with living things.
Introduce the variables
and decide what to
measure.
Consider if repeat
measurements are
needed.
Investigation
Activity
Learning
objectives
see above
Description
Approx
timing
Activity C1c
Practical
ii, iii and iv
20 min
Activity C1d
Practical
ii, v and vi
Activity C1e
Practical
vi, vii and viii
What conditions do woodlice like? Planning Pupils plan an
investigation into whether the intensity of light affects the behaviour of
woodlice.
What conditions do woodlice like? Obtaining evidence Pupils carry
out their investigation into whether the intensity of light affects the
behaviour of woodlice.
What conditions do woodlice like? Considering and evaluating the
evidence Pupils consider and evaluate the evidence they collected.
Target group
C
H
E
S
30 min
15 min
Suggested alternative plenary activities (5–10 minutes)
Review learning
Group feedback
Analysing
Evaluating
Teacher-led review of key
variables and the relationship
between light intensity and
woodlice activity.
In groups, pupils discuss if they
had to change their plans as
they did the experiment and
why.
Teacher-led discussion of
whether pupils’ results match
their predictions.
Teacher-led evaluation of
possible improvements to
sampling methods.
Learning outcomes
Most pupils will …
Some pupils, making less progress
will …
Some pupils, making more progress
will …
 plan and carry out an investigation
(given the question to investigate)
 realise that repeating measurements
increases reliability
 collect and analyse data
 draw conclusions from their data
 describe possible improvements to
their method.
 with help, plan and carry out an
investigation (given the question to
investigate)
 collect and, with help, analyse data
 draw conclusions from their data
 with prompting, describe possible
improvements to their method.
 also decide if the evidence is strong enough
to support their conclusion.
Key words
condition, variable
Out-of-lesson learning
Pupils could write their conclusion or evaluation at home.
© Harcourt Education Ltd 2003 Catalyst 1
This worksheet may have been altered from the original on the CD-ROM.
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