MODULE 4. Block 4. Scientific methodology

MODULE 4

BLOCK 4: SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY

Assignment

 Lights and shadows:

Stage: Year 2

Nº of SS: 15

Nº of science hours: 2.30h/week

About 2 weeks for this proposal.

Est.CN.1.3.1. Est.CN.1.3.2. Expone oralmente, de forma pautada, experiencias y tareas utilizando con claridad y adecuación al vocabulario específico trabajado.                                                  

1-Activating previous knowledge: SS are shown a wordcloud which from they brainstorm some ideas about the topic.

 

2- Some questions are proposed to SS, such as:

What is ligth?

Where can we find light?

Is the sun always in the same place  of the sky?

What are shadows?

Has everything got a shadow?

Why are shadows produced?

Has a shadow got always the same size?

Do you think that a shadow shape can change?

Etc.

Different sheets with these questions are hanged on around the class' walls. SS stand up and place next to the sheet they think they can give an answer. SS comment on every question together and with the guideline of the teacher.

3-Next, they are asked the following driving question: Why shadows change along the day?

Now SS are encouraged to use their devices, computers or tablets, and go to this website of BBC learning where they can try to experiment online with ligths and shadows:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/light_shadows.shtml


4-Then, children are explained the experience which they are going to carry out. It is the following one: In the playgroud they are going to measure each other shadows at different hours (for example: 9.15, 13,30 and 4.30) and with a chalk marking the shape of the shadow on the floor, then they compare the different shapes.

After explaining the experience, they have to create their hypothesis guided by the teacher, who point out different aspects that they have to take into account, like: The relationship between the direction of the shadow and the position of the sun, the size of the shadow, changes according to the time.

Thus, SS create their hypothesis in groups of 3, and they represent their hypothesis through and infographic. When the infographic is finished the different hypothesis are presented to the rest of the class.

5-SS carry out the experiment during and entire class journey at the different selected hours. They take photos of the experience at each time.

6-The groups which had made the hypothesis together are encouraged now to complete a graphic organizer comparing and contrasting what happen with the shadow at different hours. They can write and draw in each gap the state of the shadow at each specific hour, taking into account the aspects through which they had made their hypothesis.










 7-Conclusions: The whole class try now to answer the first 

questions. Each group presents the data collected in their 

graphic organizers, explaining their experience and the steps

followed to the rest of the class, and then all together try to 

establish a whole conclusion. 


Finally, each group creates a lapbook with the differents 

pictures taken, showing the experience and the conclusions 

reached. SS will present their lapbooks to other classes, 

explaining their experience.



8-Along this lesson SS have been completing the next chart

 which shows the different stages of the scientific method.