Preparing Your Students for the
GED Science Test:
The Scientific Method
Sara Turnbull, Adult Academic Program, Robbinsdale Schools
Session Objectives:
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Define the scientific method and key vocabulary
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Explore the elements of the scientific method and key vocabulary
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Identify real-world applications of the scientific method
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Identify how the scientific method will appear in the GED tests
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Identify instructional resources to teach scientific method
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Identify strategies for scaffolding scientific method instruction
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Identify the scientific practices which are addressed through scientific method instruction
Science Practices
What is the scientific method?
Here is an excellent presentation to use with your students:
Download for free from Teachers Pay Teachers:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/Scientific-MethodPowerPoint-with-Notes-for-Teacher-and-Student
Created by Amy Brown, Science Stuff, this includes student pages for use with
the presentation and teacher notes too.
Vocabulary of the scientific method:
The Simpson’s Worksheet - controls and variables
Scientific Method Stories – identify steps of the scientific method used to solve
a real world problem about patient illness (beriberi) and penicillin
Tip: To write a hypothesis, use “I predict….” or “If…., then….”
To remember variables, the Independent (manipulated) Variable is what “I do or change and the
Dependent (responding) Variable is the Data collected.
Graphic Organizer
My favorite is from Teachers Pay Teachers, Kim Sal, the Science Gal.
Scientific Method Graphic Organizer
Using the Graphic Organizer
KAPLAN GED Science Test
Science Practices - Practice Questions
Content Page - Static Electricity
Using the Graphic Organizer
Creating an Experimental Design
Experiments outlined in graphic organizers
New Readers Press
Scientific Method - Group Project
Student groups are given a scenario and design an experiment together
and then share with the class.
Scaffolding Strategies
● Reformat essay that accompanies video, to scaffold summarizing skill
pbslearningmedia.org
● Use Graphic Organizer to outline experiment
● Create sentence frames for the Scientific Method or try My Template
● Write a paragraph describing an experimental design
Current Research on Aging at UC Irvine
Student scientists in action
From Question to Conclusion, an excellent look at the Scientific Method
through Drosophila (fly) research
The Simplified, Linear Scientific Method vs. Reality
An entertaining video on the fluidity of the scientific method
and practical problem-solving
Lesson Plan with Short Videos
The Process of Scientific Experimentation - pbslearningmedia.org
PBSLearningMedia.org makes it easy to create an account to save your
favorite videos from this marvelous website.
And another… Blood Vessels Help Tumors Grow - pbslearningmedia.org
Graphing and Analyzing Data
“Dopamine May Affect Thrill-Seeking Behavior in Humans"
Using a Graph to Find Area: A Science Skill Lab
Find at Teacherspayteachers.com
(Amy Brown, Science Stuff)
Using Picture Books to teach the
Big Ideas of Science
My favorite Evolution book:
Life On Earth, The Story Of Evolution by Steve Jenkins
(My favorite PBS Evolution Series, 7 videos - http://bit.ly/17VDksE)
More Big Ideas of Science
Cells and Genetics
Dozens of interactives on topics from stem cells to cloning
to gene therapy
The Atom pbslearningmedia.org - Cool interactive
Kitchen Chemistry TV411.org - Videos plus Math lessons
Plate Tectonics pbslearningmedia.org
Climate Change nasa.gov - Excellent graphics
A Student’s Guide to Global Climate Change epa.gov
Daphnia Heartbeat
Observing and measuring the Daphnia heartbeat - worksheet
Graphic Organizer; Graphing; Design an Experiment (Find Experiment at Teachers Pay Teachers>
Science Skills: Graphing, Applying the Scientific Method, and Scientific Writing #2 by Amy Brown, Science Stuff)
The Biology Corner
Biology lesson plans, worksheets, tutorials and resources for teachers and students
Scientific Method
● Stories and Scenarios
● Hands-On Activities
● Virtual Labs
● Analyzing and Graphing Data
and more….
A Guide to Understanding Science 101
Explore an interactive representation (flowchart) of the process of science.
Discovery: The Spark for Science - Everyday Science Questions
Science Misconceptions
Science Checklist
Resources
Teachers Pay Teachers, Amy Brown - Science Stuff
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
Lesson Plans; Videos and accompanying essays with questions
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
The Biology Corner
http://www.biologycorner.com/lesson-plans/scientific-method/
UC Berkeley
http://undsci.berkeley.edu/teaching/guide_to_us.php
Scientists at the Smithsonian - Scientists in the Field
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/scientist/index.html
TV411 - Kitchen Chemistry Science Lessons with Math
http://www.tv411.org/