Investigations Unit – 5th Grade
Essential Questions:
Science:
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What is the scientific method?
Why do we use the scientific method?
Why do scientists have to formulate a test to fit their problem?
How do scientists conduct their experiments?
What type of experiments do scientists conduct?
How do I make a conclusion from my test results?
Math:
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How does math help me in life?
How can I use my math knowledge to help during science experiments?
How do I accurately measure?
What is the difference between accuracy and precision?
How do I know what type of graph to use when showing data?
Focus Questions:
Science:
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What are the steps in the scientific method?
What do I research my problem?
What is a hypothesis?
How do I form a hypothesis?
How do I determine what type of test I will use to help solve my problem?
How do I record data?
How do I form a conclusion from my results?
Math:
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What type of graph should I use to present my collected data?
How do I solve a problem that I don’t understand?
How do I decide whether a test will give me the answer I am looking for?
How do I provide evidence to back up my argument.
How do I use mathematics that I have already learned and apply it to my experiment?
How should I measure?
What measurement system should I use?
How do I measure with precision?
Is the regularity of the results important to note?
Overarching Understandings:
Science:
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Use the scientific method.
Research possible solutions to a problem.
Form a hypothesis.
Record data.
Form a conclusion.
Math:
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Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model using mathematics.
Use appropriate tools.
Be precise when measuring and applying tests.
Look for and make use of structure.
Look for and express regularity in repeated results.
Speaking
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Stand up straight.
Project voice.
Face the audience.
Make eye contact.
Convey ideas and information clearly.
Be prepared to answer questions about conclusions and provide evidence.
What will students understand as a result of this unit?
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Students will be able to solve real life problems using math and science strategies.
Students will be able to research a possible solution.
Students will use their research findings to create a hypothesis regarding what they think will
happen after their test.
Students will be able to record procedures taken during each investigation.
Students will understand how to analyze their data.
Students will understand how to create a conclusion based on their findings.
Students will be able to present their conclusion to whole group.
Students will be able to back up their conclusions to the class with evidence.
Performance Tasks, Projects:
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Students will have a question and/or problem each day that they must work on together as a
group.
Students must figure out how to solve the problem by testing out a solution.
Their results must be kept track of and placed in a chart and/or graph.
Students will then discuss their findings with the class.
Quizzes, Tests, Academic Prompts:
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Students will complete a lab survey at the end of the three weeks to show what they have
learned about the scientific process and each investigation.
Student Self-Assessment:
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Students will work with others in their group to complete the task given.
Students will work together to decide the best way to showcase findings.
Students will be able to present their findings to the class.
Students will need to know and be able to:
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Work well in a small group.
Use time management wisely to ensure completion of each investigation
Understand how to create a test that will truly fit the question and/or problem in each
investigation
Understand what type of data to collect.
Understand how to pick a chart and/or graph that will fit the data they collected.
Standards
Common Core State Standards:
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Mathematical Practices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
New Mexico State Standards:
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Scientific Thinking & Practice: Standard I.5-8 Benchmark I, II, III
Content of Science: Standard I.5-8 Benchmark III
Science & Society: Standard I.5-8 Benchmark I
Teaching and Learning experiences that will help students demonstrate the targeted understandings:
Week 1:
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Day 1: Scientific Method- During the first lesson, explain what is done at each step of
the scientific method. Let students know that it is important to follow a set method in
order to attain the best results. Also, let them know that sometimes scientists go
through this method numerous times before reaching a set conclusion.
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Day 2: Bubbleology Lab- In the Bubbleology Lab, students will figure out which brand of
bubble solution will create the largest bubble. The bubble solutions are created from
different brands of dish soap. Have the students decide why having large bubbles would
make a difference when washing dishes.
Day 3: Airplanes Lab- In the Airplanes Lab, students are gaining practice in measuring
distances as well as gaining practice in timing accurately. Students will also begin
discussing what a variable is. In this lab the variable is the different type of paper used
(i.e. copy paper, card stock, or construction paper).
Day 4: Car Racing Lab- In the Car Racing Lab, students will gain additional work with
measuring. They will also learn that they need to start the car at the same spot every
time in order to gain reliable results.
Day 5: Paper Towels Lab- In the Paper Towels Lab, students will have to decide how they
are going to figure out which brand has the most absorbency. Students will decide why
this information would be useful in their daily lives.
Week 2:
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Day 2: Band Aid Lab- In the Band Aid Lab students will decide which brand will last the
longest as well as which brand will hurt the least when pulled off. Students will then
decide why this information will be useful for them in their daily lives.
Day 3: Newspaper Table Lab- In the Newspaper Table Lab, students will need to create a
table out of just newspaper and tape. They will have to figure out what type of structure
they must build to have their table stand on it’s own.
Day 4: Balloon Rocket Lab- In the Balloon Rocket Lab- students will decide how they can
make a balloon rocket travel the furthest distance on a string. They are able to change
many variables such as the size of balloon, size of straw, and thickness of string.
Day 5: Marshmallow Tower Lab- In the Marshmallow Tower Lab, students will use their
knowledge of basic structures to create a tower out of spaghetti noodles and
marshmallows.
Week 3:
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Day 1: Foil Boats Lab- In the Foil Boats Lab, students will construct boats out of only foil
that will float in a water tub. They will then try to fill their boat with as many marbles as
they can without it sinking. They can construct multiple boats to see which design will
keep afloat with the most marbles.
Day 2: Roller Coaster Lab- In the Roller Coaster Lab, students will create a roller coaster
out of ½ a pool noodle. The cart will be a marble, and at the end of the ride, the cart
must fall into a cup that is not connected to the end of the roller coaster. Students can
change the height of the roller coaster and the distance of the cup from the end of the
roller coaster. As an addition, students can try using a spiral in their roller coaster
and/or two spirals.
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Day 3 & 4: Popsicle Stick Bridge Lab- In the Popsicle Stick Bridge Lab, students need to
create a bridge that will sit on it’s own on two desks that are ten inches apart. Then
their bridge must be able to withstand the weight of a cup and 25 marbles.
Day 5: Science Survey- This is the conclusion of the science lab. Students will take a
survey that discusses what types of information they learned throughout the different
labs and how using the scientific method can help them in solving real life problems.
Weeks 1-3:
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Students will work on multiple trials and figure out the average unit for each measurement.
Differentiation
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Teacher will move around each group to ensure that each student is understanding what is
expected during the investigations
Peer support will be utilized in group work
Hands on lessons to enhance instruction for kinesthetic learners
Higher Level science problems that need to be solved by applying previously learned skills
Materials
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23 Lab Notebooks
23 Science Fair Project Guides
21 Science Role Tags
Five Bins (one per group)
Bubbleology Lab Materials: (per group)
o 4 containers each with a bubble solution made with a different brand soap
o 5 straws
o plenty of napkins
o measuring tape
o sharpie
Airplanes Lab Materials: (per group)
o 5 pieces of copy paper
o measuring tape
o duct tape
o timer
Car Racing Lab Materials: (per group)
o 4 toy cars
o measuring tape
o duct tape
Paper Towel Lab Materials: (per group)
o 4 brands of paper towels
o measuring spoons
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o water
Band Aid Lab Materials: (per group)
o 4-5 different brands of Band Aids (2 of each brand)
Newspaper Table Lab Materials: (per group)
o 20-30 pages of newspaper
o duct tape
o 30 marbles
o clear cups or bowl
Balloon Rocket Lab Materials: (per group)
o 1 small balloon
o 1 large balloon
o 1 small straw
o 1 large straw
o thin yarn
o thick yarn
o scotch tape
o measuring tape
o sharpie marker
Marshmallow Tower Lab Materials: (per group)
o 1 baggie filled with marshmallows
o spaghetti noodles
o 1 piece of copy paper
o measuring tape
Foil Boats Lab Materials: (per group)
o Foil
o Marbles
o Bin with water
Roller Coaster Lab Materials: (per group)
o ½ a pool noodles (cut lengthwise)
o 4-5 marbles
o duct tape
o clear cup
Popsicle Stick Bridge Lab Materials: (per group)
o Popsicle sticks
o Duct tape
o Elmer’s glue
o Glue stick
o Rubber cement
o Ruler
o String attached to cup
o 30 marbles