Mrs. Dissinger's Science Class

Students designed and conducted an experiment to investigate the effects of friction on objects.

By doing this lab, students will learn how to use the scientific method to answer a question that they posed. After sharing their data with the class, students have the opportunity to learn from their peers, ask questions of each other, and evaluate the validity of data collected.

Standards this lesson covers include: Math Practice Standards of 1. Model with mathematics, 2. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others, 3. Reason abstractly and quantitatively, 4. Use appropriate tools strategically. ELA standards include: Research, High level questioning, and supporting claims with evidence.  Science Standards include: 1. Ask questions and define problems, 2. Plan and conduct investigations, 3. Use mathematical and computational thinking, 4. Construct explanations and design solutions, 5. Engage in scientific argument from evidence, 6. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information, 6. Analyze and interpret data to describe and predict the effects of forces on the speed and direction of an object.

Student learning was promoted as students were engaged in asking testable questions, generating hypotheses, and testing their hypotheses. Because students designed their own experiments, they took ownership of the lesson and came up with original designs. The most important part of doing an experiment is to share the results. Students had the opportunity to do this in class as they explained their data with graphs they created. This allows students to peer critique each other and learn how to modify experiments in order to get better results.