Microworlds
Lesson 2
Communicating Your Observations
Students will practice their observation skills. They will be communicating those skills using words and drawings.
3. Lesson Set-up and Management
4-5 INQD Investigations involve systematic collection and recording of relevant observations and data.
4-5 INQH Scientists communicate the results of their investigations verbally and in writing. They review and ask questions about the results of other scientists’ work.
- Students will practice making detailed observations
- Students will record observations in words and drawings
- Teacher will evaluate observation skills
3. Lesson Set-Up and Management
Materials:
- Pick a place in your classroom to distribute materials. Teach the students which way they are to walk through the classroom to pick up these materials. The better you teach this in this lesson, the more smoothly the transitions will go for the whole unit.
- You will need to gather pencil shavings for this lesson. Put some in small paper cups.
- Have lids from storage bins or plates to use as trays for each group to carry their materials easily back to their group.
- You may want to have the students draw the student sheet in their notebook, instead of photocopying it. This sheet is easy to create with drawn lines. Students need to be able to create data tables, and this is a good opportunity.
- You will need to select an object to use for step 2 of the procedures. Feel free to also use an observation game that you know.
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This is an example of a student
drawn chart, |
Student Management:
- Arrange students in groups of four. Each student will have their own hand lens and/or microscope, but they will be sharing the materials.
- Begin the lesson with a class discussion on the senses. Make sure students understand that there is no tasting in science. Explain that sight is the main sense that will be use in this unit.
- An example of another observation game would be to have two students stand up that have something in common. Give the class time to make guesses. Then, have another student stand up that has that same property (for example: wearing glasses). Students continue guessing and continue having students stand, until that property has been identified. Remember, it is very important to stress the word property.
- Have students draw the activity sheet in their notebooks. This can be done very easily by having them draw a ruler line on each side of their paper. That will leave a larger middle section for the observable properties.
- Make sure you walk around the room and monitor what the students are recording in their notebooks. This is the opportunity to set your expectations for the entire unit.
- Have students fold back the edge of their paper that says the object name. They can look at another student’s description and drawing to see if they can guess the object. This will show students whether or not they are being descriptive enough in their writing and detailed in their drawings.
- Have students share out examples of vivid descriptions and detailed drawings.
Writing Support:
- Have students write cinquain poems. They can practice observable properties with an object of their choosing.
Last updated 02/20/2010