Developing Science Observation Skills

Computer Animations and Lab Notebooks

Rationale

Science is a process for improving knowledge and understanding. Organization and repetition are critical components of the scientific process. Computer animations will allow students to repeatedly observe a process, without the time consuming setup process. Lab notebooks are essential for keeping organized records of experiments.

Montana Instructional Standards

• Students through the inquiry process, demonstrate the ability to design, conduct, evaluate and communicate results for scientific investigations.

• Identify, measure, calculate, analyze relationships associated with matter and energy transfer or transformations, and associated conservation of mass.

Instructional Goals

• Students will keep an organized notebook. The activities will be cataloged in a table of contents. Graphs and measurements pertaining to the activities will be included in the notebook with attention to organization.

• Students will repeatedly observe computer animations to help them develop conceptual understanding of science content.

Module Objective(s)

• The student should be able to relate the presence of balanced or unbalanced forces to the state of motion of an object.

• The student should be able to relate force diagrams and force information to information describing the motion of an object.

• The student should understand the significance of Newton's law of inertia by identifying and refuting classic misconceptions concerning the causes of motion.

• The student should recognize inertia as a property of an object which depends solely upon mass

Outcome:Students should develop the patience to repeatedly review animations and activities for

understanding.

Unit Topic Sequence

• Representing Forces with Vectors (Text)• Combining Forces (Experiment)• Graphical Vector Addition (Text and Handouts)• Vector Addition (MOP)• Order Does Not Matter (MOP)• Resultants (MOP)• The Plane and the Wind (MOP)• Newton’s First Law—Inertia (Text)

Assessment

• Computer entered and submitted.• Free Body Diagrams (Formative Assesment)• Lab Notebook Rubric

Materials

• Computer Lab• Required Handouts• Required Software: Shockwave player• Lab Notebook