Grade Level(s):
- 6-8
- 9-12
- College
Source:
- UC Museum of Paleontology
Resource type:
- lab activity
Discipline:
- Life Science
Time: 10-15 minutes
Overview
This short activity quickly engages the participants in the process of developing testable hypotheses. Students come up with multiple hypotheses to explain a set of observations and figure out how to test these hypotheses.
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Science aims to build explanations of the natural world. (P3, P6)
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Science deals with the natural world and natural explanations.
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Science works only with testable ideas. (P2, P3, NOS2)
- [What is science?: Grades 6-8] Scientists strive to test their ideas with evidence from the natural world; a hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7, NOS2)
- [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science aims to build explanations of the natural world. (P3, P6)
- [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science focuses on natural phenomena and processes.
- [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Science works only with testable ideas. (P2, P3, NOS2)
- [What is science?: Grades 9-12] Scientists strive to test their ideas with evidence from the natural world; a hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7, NOS2)
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Science focuses on natural phenomena and processes.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Science works only with testable ideas.
- [What is science?: Grades 13-16] Scientists strive to test their ideas with evidence from the natural world; a hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing.
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] The process of science involves observation, exploration, testing, communication, and application.
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists test their ideas by predicting what they would expect to observe if their idea were true and then seeing if that prediction is correct. (P4, P6)
- [How science works: Grades 6-8] Scientists often try to generate multiple explanations for what they observe. (P7)
- [How science works: Grades 9-12] The process of science involves observation, exploration, testing, communication, and application.
- [How science works: Grades 9-12] Scientists test their ideas (hypotheses and theories) by figuring out what expectations are generated by an idea and making observations to find out whether those expectations are borne out. (P4, P6)
- [How science works: Grades 9-12] Scientists often try to generate multiple explanations for what they observe. (P7)
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] The process of science involves observation, exploration, testing, communication, and application.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Scientists test their ideas (hypotheses and theories) by figuring out what expectations are generated by an idea and making observations to find out whether those expectations are borne out.
- [How science works: Grades 13-16] Scientists often try to generate multiple explanations for what they observe.
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 6-8] Hypotheses are potential explanations for what we observe in the natural world. (P6)
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 6-8] Hypotheses are usually inspired and informed by previous research and/or observations. They are not guesses. (P6)
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 9-12] Hypotheses are proposed explanations for a narrow set of phenomena. (P6)
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 13-16] Hypotheses are proposed explanations for a narrow set of phenomena.
- [Hypotheses and theories: Grades 13-16] Hypotheses are usually inspired and informed by previous research and/or observations. They are not guesses.
- [A scientific approach to life: Grades 9-12] Problem-solving and decision-making benefit from a scientific approach.
- [A scientific approach to life: Grades 6-8] Problem-solving and decision-making benefit from a scientific approach.
- [A scientific approach to life: Grades 13-16] Problem-solving and decision-making benefit from a scientific approach.
- NOS Matrix understanding category 2. Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence.
- Science and Engineering Practice 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
- Science and Engineering Practice 7. Engaging in argument from evidence
There are currently no teaching tips for this resource.