Center of the Universe
Topic: Scientific inquiry and measurement
(4th – 9 th grade)
by Lodge
Center of the Universe
A scientist, we’ll call her Felice, studies the natural world
She inquires and attempts to explain the many things that she should
While folding up her paper plane, she wonders how would it fly without wings...
Then tries it, and explains to the world just how she, how she measured it
First, she’s gotta ask a good question and think “how will I measure it?” - Felice
Felice, there is possible reason you may try to defend
If the hypothesis is wrong again, then she will be my next best friend
It will be good and testable when you know how you can measure it
Chorus:
All ya need is a theory and explained results
How ‘bout a law – a theory, like without the faults
Take some gravity, oh, a little gravity, oh
I guess it’s open to flaws...
Like we’re the center of the universe
Felice, your new experiment has a flawless design
The variable manipulated independently tries
To cause some sort of measured response
On the dependent’s “le resistaunce”
Felice, collect that data, and write down how you are measuring it
Felice, go on and measure the mass,
come on and measure the volume
Don’t hide the density, yea ‘cause I saw ya
Now measure the length
And is the temperature falling?
Was this your time?...don’t keep stalling, stalling
Shop shoo be da
Felice will take the data and be so busy busy explaining it
She makes graphs and tables and things, and tells of what she would change
Her hypothesis was wrong again
With metric data that’s based on 10...
In the little scientific community is how she’ll be sharing it
Student Lyric Guide
Name:
Scientific Measurement and Inquiry
Center of the Universe
A scientist, we’ll call her Felice, studies the natural world
She inquires and attempts to explain the many things that she should
Define scientific inquiry: _______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
While folding up her paper plane, she wonders how would it fly without wings…
How would a paper airplane fly without wings?
List examples of problems in everyday life that can be solved using the scientific method.
1.
2.
3.
Then tries it, and explains to the world just how she, how she measured it
What method is used to test the flying ability of the paper airplane? _________
________
First, she’s gotta ask a good question and think “how will I measure it?” – Felice
List the first step to the scientific method.
What constitutes a ‘good’ scientific question?
What was Felice’s question?
Is Felice’s question a ‘good’ scientific question? Explain.
Felice, there is possible reason you may try to defend
If the hypothesis is wrong again, then she will be my next best friend
List the 2nd step in the scientific method.
Define hypothesis:
It will be good and testable when you know how you can measure it
What constitutes a ‘good’ hypothesis?
All ya need is a theory and explained results
Define scientific theory:
How ‘bout a law – a theory, like without the faults
Define scientific law:
Is a scientific theory or law more supported in the scientific community?
Take some gravity, oh, a little gravity, oh
I guess it’s open to flaws…
Can scientific theories and/or laws be proven incorrect? Explain
Like we’re the center of the universe
List 2 examples of scientific laws that have been proven incorrect.
Felice, your new experiment has a flawless design
List the 3 rd step in the scientific method.
The variable manipulated independently tries
What is a variable?
To cause some sort of measured response
List 2 the two variables in an experiment.
1.
2.
Define the independent (manipulated) variable:
Define the dependent (responding) variable:
On the dependent’s “le resistaunce”
Felice, collect that data, and write down how you are measuring it
Why is it important for Felice to write down units of measurement when collecting data?
Felice, go on and measure the mass,
List the 4 th step to the scientific method.
The standard system of measurement is called the
abbreviated
.
system of
Define mass:
What instrument is used to measure the mass of an object?
What is the basic unit of mass?
come on and measure the volume
Define volume:
The formula for calculating the volume of a regular shaped object is
Volume = length X width X
How is the volume of an irregular shape object measured?
Don’t hide the density, yea ‘cause I saw ya
Define density:
The formula for calculating the density of an object is
Density =
/
Now measure the length
How is the length of an object measured?
What is the SI unit of length?
And is the temperature falling?
What instrument is used to measure temperature?
What is the SI unit of temperature?
Was this your time?…don’t keep stalling, stalling
What is the SI unit for measuring time?
Shop shoo be da
Felice will take the data and be so busy busy explaining it
List the 5 th step to the scientific method.
She makes graphs and tables and things, and tells of what she would change
Why does Felice make graphs and tables?
Her hypothesis was wrong again
What does Felice have to do now that she found out her hypothesis is wrong?
and is
With metric data that’s based on 10…
What number is the metric system based on?
Why is it important to have one standard system of measurement in the scientific community?
In the little scientific community is how she’ll be sharing it
Why is it important for scientists to share their results with the scientific community?
Should Felice share her incorrect results with the scientific community? Explain.
Teacher Key
Name:
KEY
Center of the Universe
Scientific Method
A scientist, we’ll call her Felice, studies the natural world
She inquires and attempts to explain the many things that she should
Define scientific inquiry: Scientific inquiry refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the
natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence they gather
While folding up her paper plane, she wonders how would it fly without wings…
How would a paper airplane fly without wings? It would not fly!
List examples of problems in everyday life that can be solved using the scientific method.
1.how to put something together
2.how to cook something
3. which pants fit the best
Then tries it, and explains to the world just how she, how she measured it
What method is used to test the flying ability of the paper airplane? scientific method
First, she’s gotta ask a good question and think “how will I measure it?” – Felice
List the first step to the scientific method.
Pose a question
What constitutes a ‘good’ scientific question?
What was Felice’s question?
Measurable and testable
How will a paper airplane fly without wings?
Is Felice’s question a ‘good’ scientific question? Explain.
No, not a good questions. There is nothing
measureable about ‘how will an airplane fly without wings?’ Should say ‘How far does an airplane fly without wings?’ or
something similar
Felice, there is possible reason you may try to defend
If the hypothesis is wrong again, then she will be my next best friend
List the 2nd step in the scientific method.
Define hypothesis:
Develop a hypothesis
a possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question
It will be good and testable when you know how you can measure it
What constitutes a ‘good’ hypothesis?
A good hypothesis has a measurable variable in the hypothesis. This means
researchers must be able to gather evidence to either support or dispute the hypothesis.
All ya need is a theory and explained results
Define scientific theory:
a well tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results.
How ‘bout a law – a theory, like without the faults
Define scientific law:
particular set of conditions.
a statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time under a
Is a scientific theory or law more supported in the scientific community?
Scientific law
Take some gravity, oh, a little gravity, oh
I guess it’s open to flaws…
Can scientific theories and/or laws be proven incorrect? Explain
yes, because theories and laws are
only as advanced as the most current technology. Changing / advancing technology often leads researchers
to discover inaccurate theories and laws.
Like we’re the center of the universe
List 2 examples of scientific laws that have been proven incorrect.
Geocentric model of the universe
The world is flat
Felice, your new experiment has a flawless design
List the 3 rd step in the scientific method.
Design an experiment
The variable manipulated independently tries
What is a variable?
A factor that can change in an experiment.
To cause some sort of measured response
List 2 the two variables in an experiment.
3.
Independent (manipulated)
4.
Dependent (responding)
Define the independent (manipulated) variable:
The variable that is purposefully changed in an
experiment to test the hypothesis.
Define the dependent (responding) variable:
The factor in the experiment that may change in response to
the independent variable.
On the dependent’s “le resistaunce”
Felice, collect that data, and write down how you are measuring it
Why is it important for Felice to write down units of measurement when collecting data?
If there are no units,
the numbers mean nothing. For instance, does the number ‘10’ mean 10lbs, 10 miles, 10g??
Felice, go on and measure the mass,
List the 4 th step to the scientific method.
Collect data
The standard system of measurement is called the
SI
.
Define mass:
International
system of measurement and is abbreviated
a measurement of the amount of matter an object contains
What instrument is used to measure the mass of an object?
What is the basic unit of mass?
Kilogram (kg)
Triple beam balance
come on and measure the volume
Define volume:
the amount of space an object takes up
The formula for calculating the volume of a regular shaped object is
Volume = length X width X
height
How is the volume of an irregular shape object measured?
Water displacement
Don’t hide the density, yea ‘cause I saw ya
Define density:
a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume
The formula for calculating the density of an object is
Density =
mass
/
volume
Now measure the length
How is the length of an object measured?
What is the SI unit of length?
Using a ruler / meter stick
Meter (m)
And is the temperature falling?
What instrument is used to measure temperature?
What is the SI unit of temperature?
Kelvin (K)
thermometer
Was this your time?…don’t keep stalling, stalling
What is the SI unit for measuring time?
Seconds (s)
Shop shoo be da
Felice will take the data and be so busy busy explaining it
List the 5 th step to the scientific method.
Organize and interpret data
She makes graphs and tables and things, and tells of what she would change
Why does Felice make graphs and tables?
Tables to organize data, graphs to identify trends
Her hypothesis was wrong again
What does Felice have to do now that she found out her hypothesis is wrong?
run another experiment
With metric data that’s based on 10…
What number is the metric system based on? 10
Research and write a new hypothesis and
Why is it important to have one standard system of measurement in the scientific community?
Scientists can share results and interpret them correctly all around the world. Having scientific results is
no good unless we can share them with other scientists and discuss the results.
In the little scientific community is how she’ll be sharing it
Why is it important for scientists to share their results with the scientific community?
Many reasons…if a scientists discovers a cure for a disease it is no good to anyone unless he/she shares it with
others
Should Felice share her incorrect results with the scientific community? Explain.
YES!! Other scientists may have ideas for how Felice can improve her experiment, what she did wrong and how
she can fix it.
Music Video Extension Activity
1. Hand out or project the lyrics and read them out loud and discuss their meaning
2. Play the song for the students, multiple times, encouraging them to sing along
3. Use the student lyric guide in place of, or to supplement class notes
4. Allow students class time, in small groups, to “act” out a portion of the song
5. Film the student groups singing/acting out the song