Discover Science:
A Quarterly Assignment
Objectives:
•
•
Students will be able to access and process information from reading, investigating and
through oral communication.
Students will be able to modify ideas based on new information from developmentally
appropriate reading data and the ideas of others.
Purpose:
In the world of science there is so much to learn and explore; the possibilities are endless. In
class, we are limited by the confines of our national, state and county curricula as to the subjects
and topics we are able to cover. Yet, there is so much more that is interesting and exciting for
students to explore. Incredible scientific and technological advances are being made
continuously. To keep pace with the discoveries and innovations of today, we will examine
current events and discoveries of long ago. Once every quarter students will be expected to
complete one of the following assignment choices to extend their knowledge in the field of
science. Due dates for Discover Science will be announced in class and posted on Edline.
Assignment Choices:
1. Current Science Article
2. Television program or documentary video about science
3. Field trip to science museum, nature center, aquarium, etc.
4. Biography of a scientist (pre-approval required)
5. Interview of a scientist
6. Lab experiment (pre-approval required)
7. Website Evaluation
8. Snacks with a Scientist (afterschool sessions will be announced in class)
8.9.Unit of Study Extension Activity (teacher will provide students with a list of possible
extension activities)
Formats and descriptions for each of these assignments are included in the next pages of this
packet. Students must follow the specific format designed for each of these assignment choices.
Students will receive one hard copy of this packet. The resources and formats will also be
available online through the Westland website. Students are strongly encouraged to use the
online resources provided. Students should identify topics in which they are interested and that
are age appropriate. Please discuss their assignment with them and encourage them to
research areas of personal interest.
Students are expected to select a variety of Discover Science assignment formats
throughout the year.
The first Discover Science assignment will be due on _____________________________ .
Current Science Article:
Students will write a summary and answer a series of questions. Articles may be found in
magazines, newspapers, on the Internet, or in kid magazines and periodicals. Links to science
sites will be discussed in class and can be found on Westland’s website. Newspaper articles must
be less than a month old and magazine articles less than a year old unless special permission is
granted by the teacher.
ARTICLE FORMAT
Heading
Resource: Name of Magazine/ Newspaper/website
Date of Resource: Date of article
Name: Your Name
Today’s date: Date due
Science Period ____
Title: Title of Article
Author: Name of Person who wrote the article
1. Write a brief summary of the article: This should be a paragraph or approximately 5 to 6
complete sentences in your own words.
2. What interested you in choosing this particular article, or what interested you as you read the
article? Why did you find this interesting? (2-3 sentences)
3. How does the information in this article connect to your life and experiences?
If it does not directly connect to your life or experiences, who else is the information in this
article most relevant to? Identify the specific group, region, state, nation, etc., and explain
why you think the information is relevant to that particular area or group. (2-3 sentences)
4. To which MYP Area of Interaction does the information in this article most relate?
Explain your choice, using the summary sheet included in this packet to help you.
The 5 Areas are: Human Ingenuity, Community and Service, Approaches to Learning,
Environment, & Health and Social Education. (2-3 sentences)
5. After reading this article, what is one question you have about the information you felt was
left out or that you are curious about? (“I don’t have a question” is not an acceptable
answer!)
***A copy of the article MUST be attached to the back of your article write up!***
Television program or Video documentary:
Students also may choose to view a show on TV or a video
documentary. They must include a 1-page summary of the show and
answer a series of questions.. Suggested channels to find related topics
include: Discovery Channel, Weather Channel, Animal Planet, Travel
Channel, PBS or specials on the regular network stations.
VIDEO/TV SHOW FORMAT
Heading
Resource: Record Web Address Here (if online)
Date of Resource : Date of Show
Name: Your Name
Today’s date: Date due
Science Period ____
Title: Title of Show: Example: Sharks and their Habitat
1. Write a one page summary about the show. This should be about 3 to 5
paragraphs long with approximately 5 to 6 complete sentences per
paragraph. There should be a beginning, middle and an end.
2. What interested you in choosing this particular program, or what interested you as you
watched the program? Why did you find this interesting? (2-3 sentences)
3. How does the information in this video connect to your life and experiences?
If it does not directly connect to your life or experiences, who else is the information in
this video most relevant to? Identify the specific group, region, state, nation, etc., and
explain why you think the information is relevant to that particular area or group. (2-3
sentences)
4. To which MYP Area of Interaction does the information in this video most relate?
Explain your choice, using the summary sheet included in this packet to help you.
The 5 Areas are: Human Ingenuity, Community and Service, Approaches to Learning,
Environment, & Health and Social Education. (2-3 sentences)
4.5.After watching this video, what is one question you have about the information you felt
was left out or that you are curious about? (“I don’t have a question” is not an acceptable
answer!)
Field Trip to Science museum, nature center, aquarium
or other science related locations or event.
Students may choose to visit a science related location or event. Parents must
sign the bottom of the format sheet as verification for the trip. Students may
write about some place they visited during the summer for the first Discover
Science assignment. After that, all trips must be current.
In separate paragraphs, students will describe three exhibits found at this location or event and
answer a series of questions.
FORMAT FOR FIELD TRIP TO MUSEUM, NATURE CENTER, OR
SCIENCE RELATED EVENT
Name: _____________________
Due Date: __________________
Science Period ______________
Heading
Place or Event you visited
Date of your visit
Parent Signature
1. In separate paragraphs, describe 3 exhibits found at this location or event.
For each exhibit paragraph, your description should include:
• a brief description of how the exhibit was set up
• the focus of the exhibit and facts and key information presented
• what you saw as the most interesting aspect of the exhibit.
2. What made you choose to visit this site or event?
3. How did the exhibits you viewed help you learn more about science in ways that are different
from learning in the science classroom?
4. Would you recommend this site or event to other students? Why or why not?
5. Select one aspect of this event or site that relates to the MYP Areas of Interactions. Identify
the area of interaction and explain your choice, using the summary sheet included in this
packet to help you. The 5 Areas are: Human Ingenuity, Community and Service, Approaches
to Learning, Environment, & Health and Social Education. (2-3 sentences)
***Remember to have your PARENTS SIGN your assignment before handing it in.***
Biography of Scientist or Person in science related field
Students may choose to read a biography or web-based biographical article about a
scientist or someone in a science related field with sufficient information to answer
format questions. Students must get teacher approval for the scientist they plan to
study and the resource they plan to use before completing a biography assignment. A
written summary which details the life of the scientist (using the points outlined on the
format sheet), as well as a series of focus questions is required for this assignment.
NOTE: If you use a web based or encyclopedia based biographical article you MUST
include a copy of the article. Please note that Wikipedia is not an acceptable source.
FORMAT FOR BIOGRAPHY OF SCIENTIST
Name: _____________________
Due Date: __________________
Science Period ______________
Heading
Title of Book
Author
Scientist
(or web address)
Life of Scientist:
1. Write a brief summary about the life of the scientist. Include in your summary basic facts
about the person, such as when and where they were born, where they grew up and their
education. Also include important family information.
Focus Questions:
2. What interest, event, or person influenced this scientist to pursue their specific field of study?
3. In your own words, explain the significant contributions and achievements made by this
scientist.
4. How have we benefited as a result of this person’s efforts and accomplishments?
5. What obstacles or challenges did this person have to overcome to reach his or her goals?
Interview of Scientist or person working in a
science related field
Students may choose to interview a scientist or a person that has a science
related career. A written description of the person’s job, as well as
answers to a series of questions is required for this assignment. See your
teacher if you do not know any scientists to interview.
FORMAT FOR INTERVIEW
Name: _____________________
Due Date: __________________
Science Period ______________
Heading
Name of person you are interviewing
Date of Interview
Type of Interview (In person, phone or e-mail)
Job Description:
1. Describe this person’s job, including place of employment, job
title, responsibilities and daily activities associated with this job. This
should be a paragraph or approximately 5 to 6 complete sentences.
Interview Questions: Each question should be answered in two to three sentences.
2. What kind of education is required for this job?
3. What influenced you to choose this profession?
4. What part do new scientific advancements play in your job? What new scientific
advancements are taking place at your job?
5. What contributions does your work make to the community or society?
6. What makes you want to come to work each day?
You may also add questions of your own to your interview.
Job Interview Reflection: (These are questions that YOU must answer on your own,
reflecting on your interview experience.)
7. Why did you choose this person to interview and what did you find interesting about this job?
8. Would you consider this job as a possible future career choice? Why or why not?
9. To which MYP area of interaction does this job best relate? Explain your choice, using the
MYP summary sheet from this packet.
Please make sure you thank the person you interviewed for their time and expertise.
FORMAT FOR LAB INVESTIGATION
Make sure to get experiments approved before beginning and see your teacher
for additional resources!
Students may choose to complete a lab investigation on a topic of interest to them or complete a
lab provided by the teacher. They must get their teacher’s and parent’s approval before
completing their own lab investigation. The lab report format should be used to write up the lab.
Name: _____________________
Due Date: __________________
Science Period ______________
General Questions:
1. What made you choose to complete this particular lab investigation?
2.
What MYP Area of Interaction does this lab investigation most relate to and why?
Lab Report
3. Purpose: What was the purpose of conducting this experiment?
4.
Background: What background information do you know that will give you a better understanding of
what may occur in the experiment?
5.
Hypothesis: If _________________________________ then _______________
_______________________________ because ___________________________.
6.
Materials: List all the materials, with the specific amounts needed.
7.
Procedures: Be specific. Number each procedure. Start each procedure with an action verb.
8.
Observations/Data: Insert any graphs and/or charts, journal entries, observations, etc.
9.
Analysis and Conclusions: Use the provided format to write a conclusion explaining what you did and
what occurred in the experiment. Be sure to discuss how the hypothesis was proven correct or incorrect.
This section is a summary of the entire experiment. Since it is a summary, it may be a bit repetitive of what
you have already written but all parts are necessary for a complete conclusion. There is no length
requirement but in order to be complete you conclusion must answer the following questions in paragraph
form.
Paragraph #1:
Purpose- What was your purpose in this lab? What were you trying to do and find out?
Set-up- Write a brief summary of the procedure for the experiment. ( Do not repeat the entire procedure!)
Type of Data- What type of data did you collect? (length, mass, color, shape?) and how did you collect it?
(tools and methods)
Paragraph #2:
Data Results- What does your data show? What did you discover? Repeat and summarize the major
findings of your experiment. Be sure to include number values with units of any measurements or
calculations. If there is a graph, describe what the graph shows.
Hypothesis- State whether your hypothesis was supported or contradicted by the data results. Compare it
to the actual results and explain.
Final Summary- Offer any possible explanation you have for the findings, point out any conditions that
may have led to “scientific uncertainty”, and provide suggestions to improve the experiment for future
experimentation.
Website Evaluation.
Students may choose to evaluate a science-related website. Students summarize the
website’s content and answer questions to evaluate the site’s usefulness and reliability.
Students attach a printed copy of the website’s main page to their report.
WEBSITE EVALUATION FORMAT
Student Name:____________________
Date Due:________________________
Science Period:___________________
Title of Website: “___________________________________________”
Web Address/URL: _________________________________________
SUMMARY:
1. Summarize the content of the website. Your summary should be about 1-2 paragraphs and
must include:
• Who the website is created by.
• The main topics the website focuses on.
• The types of activities the website provides (text, video, games).
QUESTIONS:
2. How did you find this website? What led you to it? (at least 1-2 sentences)
3. What did you find most interesting about this website? Why did you find it interesting? (at least
2-3 sentences)
4. How do you think this website could be used in your science class or by a science teacher?
OR
What kind of scientists might use this website, and how might they use it differently? (at least 23 sentences)
5. How is the information in the website relevant to you or how does it make a difference to the
world around you? (2-3 sentences)
6. Which one of the following 5 Areas of Interaction does the information in this article most
relate to and why? Human Ingenuity, Community and Service, Approaches to Learning,
Environment, Health and Social Education. (2-3 sentences)
7. Think about who or what group created this website. Do you think the information is biased?
Why or why not? (at least 2-3 sentences).
8. What was the date of the last time this website was updated? _____________ Do you think
the information in this website is current and reliable? Why or why not? (at least 2-3
sentences)
9. Would you recommend this website to your friends or teacher? Why or why not? (at least 2-3
sentences)
Snacks with a Scientist!
Students may choose to attend an after-school presentation with a scientist or a
person that has a science-related career. Students are expected to take notes
during the presentation about the person’s job and responsibilities, as well
answer a series of reflection questions required for this assignment. Teachers
will advertise Snacks with a Scientist sessions in class, so pay attention for these
opportunities!
FORMAT FOR SNACKS WITH A SCIENTIST
Name: _____________________
Due Date: __________________
Science Period ______________
Heading
Name of person presenting
Date of Presentation
Interview Question:
Based on the information provided in class, brainstorm one question you would like to ask the
scientist during their presentation.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 1 - Job Description:
Take notes on the following topics. Use your notes to write a short paragraph describing this
person’s job.
1. Job Title:
2. Place of Employment
3. Number of years at this job
4. Responsibilities and Daily activities
5. Role of technology in this profession
Snacks with a Scientist! …Continued
Paragraph 2 - Background Questions:
Take notes on the following questions/topics. Then use your notes to write a paragraph (include
at least 2-3 sentences about each question below).
6. What influenced this scientist to choose their profession?
7. How does the work of this scientist impact the local or global community?
8. What about their job makes this scientist want to come to work each day?
Paragraph 3 - Reflection: (These are questions that YOU must answer on your own, reflecting
on the presentation experience. You may answer them separately or in a paragraph.)
9. Briefly describe the presentation- How did the presenter share information (Video?
PowerPoint? What other media resources or materials did they use?), and how did he or she
facilitate audience participation (Were there hands-on materials for you to explore or
experiments for you to investigate? What activities did you participate in during the
presentation?)
10. What question did you ask the scientist and what was their response?
11. How did the information presented by this scientist extend or relate to your learning in
science?
12. What did you find most interesting about this scientists job? Why was this most interesting
to you?
13. Would you consider this job as a possible future career choice? Why or why not?
14. Which MYP Learner Profiles do you think this scientist best represents? Explain your
choice. (Caring, Communicator, Thinker, Inquirer, Balanced, Principled, Risk Taker, Open
Minded, Knowledgeable, Reflective)
Please make sure you thank our visiting scientists for sharing their time and expertise.
Areas of Interaction Descriptions
Use these descriptions to help you answer questions relating to the MYP Areas of Interaction.
Approaches to Learning
Learning how to learn effectively by using thoughtful applications and critical thinking as an
individual or in a cooperative group setting.
- How do I learn best?
- How do I know?
- How do I convey my knowledge?
Articles that deal with this area of interaction would focus on learning how people, or organisms in
general learn, the different methods or mediums through which they learn, or new methods of
learning that have been discovered.
Community and Service
Requires students to participate in the communities where they live in order to develop awareness,
concern, a sense of responsibility, and the skills needed to create a cooperative society.
- How do we live in relation to each other?
- How can I contribute to the community?
- How can I help others?
Articles that deal with this area of interaction would focus on the role of an individual
in their community. They would also deal with an individuals services to the
community or to society, the responsibilities they have in their community, and any
concerns for the community or society.
Human Ingenuity
Learning how to appreciate and utilize the human capability to influence, transform, enjoy, and improve
the quality of life by solving problems using creativity and resourcefulness. Students will combine
technology with ethics.
- Why and how do we create?
- What are the consequences?
Articles that deal with this area of interaction would focus on new developments in technology or new
developments in general discovered or created through human genius that will improve the quality of life
as it currently exists.
Environment
Becoming aware of one’s interdependence with the environment by accepting responsibility to maintain
an environment that is fit for the present and the future.
Where do we live?
What resources do we have or need?
What are my responsibilities?
Articles that deal with this area of interaction would focus on events occurring in the environment with a
particular focus on the role that individuals (people, plants, animals) play within the environment. These
articles also discuss the interdependence of all organisms within the local and global environment.
Health & Social Education
Prepares students for a healthy social and physical life by taking responsibility for one’s well-being and
encouraging them to explore their own selves as they form healthy relationships with others.
How do I think and act?
How am I changing?
How can I look after myself and others?
Articles that deal with this area of interaction would focus on events and decisions and how they affect
the well-being of individuals or populations in general. It would also include articles that focus on social
interactions among different populations. It would also include articles addressing individuals taking
responsibility for maintaining healthy social and physical well-being.
Your Discover Science assignment may take you several weeks to complete. Use the chart below to help
you break down the steps and stay on track.
Assignment Choice
Choose your format:
Article, video/TV show,
Interview, Lab, Field Trip,
Biography…
Plan
What steps do you need to
take to complete your
assignment?
Find an article, video, or
book, arrange an interview or
a trip, plan a lab…
Type and Edit
Type your answers into the
correct format. Check your
spelling and grammar, and
make sure that your responses
make sense and answer the
question being asked.
Topic
Decide on the topic for your
assignment. What are you
interested in learning about
this quarter? Get teacher
approval, if needed.
Rough Draft
Draft your answers to
questions from the
appropriate format for your
assignment choice.
Final Report
Make sure your name is on your
assignment and that you have all
parts needed (Copy of the article
for an Article, Parent Signature
for a field trip…). You’re ready
to turn it in!
Due dates for Discover Science assignments will be announced in class.
You will be keeping a collection of your Discover
Sciences throughout the year so that on Science
Night you will have a variety of assignments to
choose from. Keep your graded DS assignments
in your folder in class.