syllabus

Expectations and Rubric for Final Experiment

Experiment must be done completely in class
Experiment must show measurable change over time
10 days of data collection required (unless I find we need to alter schedule)
Individual or pairs of students
EVERY student is responsible for turning in HIS/HER own written work

THE EXPERIMENT

All materials must be here by __5/5/2008___. On this day you will:

set up your experiment
take initial measurements
record DETAILED and DATED notes

THE BOOK

This is what I will collect as a major part of your final grade. It will contain:

question and hypothesis
data table and detailed, dated, well-written daily notes
materials and procedures
graph (line or bar)
conclusion and analysis of the results

POINTS

Question

Hypothesis

Data Table

Daily Notes

Materials List

Procedures

Graph

Conclusion (validity/reliability)

Analysis of Results

Neatness

100

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: 380 total points

Question – What do you want to know, answer or what problem are you solving?

Hypothesis – Turn your question into an If…, then.. statement.

Data Table – record ANY and ALL measurements you may need in order to write an accurate conclusion AND help you analyze your outcome.

Daily Notes – these need to be dated, detailed, neat, accurate, specific and may include sketches. Record any and all information that you think might help you write a good strong conclusion and analyze the outcome.

Materials List – be sure it is a list, not a paragraph

Procedures – numbered, sequential AND so specific that anyone could take your procedures and recreate your experiment exactly. Leave no steps out!

Graph – can be a bar or line graph. ALL GRAPH PARTS. colored, show comparison between control group and group that was manipulated and any other group.

Conclusion – the 4 paragraphs just like you’ve done in the past.

P1 – Start by addressing the validity of your experiment. Then, GO TO YOUR DATA TABLE AND NOTES!! Do not re-invent the wheel here. You have all of the information you need in your data table and notes! I should read your first paragraph and SEE YOUR DATA. It should be specific with dates and measurements. What about control group? Include in this paragraph the comparison between control group and test subjects that were manipulated.

P2 – VARIABLES!! Address the reliability of your data. Discuss your independent and dependent variables. Restate what they are and how they were measured, controlled and how they affect your experiment. Look at your data. IS IT RELIABLE? Were all other variables controlled? If data is not reliable, what was not controlled? Why? (does it go here or in errors paragraph?)

P3 – ERRORS Did your experiment have problems that were caused by errors? Address them here.

P4 – What should be changed in the future if this experiment were to be done again? DO NOT REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE EITHER!! Go back to P2 and P3 – address problems with uncontrolled variables, errors and other inconsistencies that you HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED. No new ideas here! Only address what you have talked about already.

Analysis of Results – This is where you look at your outcome of your experiment and talk about the hows and whys.

why is answering this question important?
how will this help with the understanding of the world we live?

Animal Deisgn Planets

ENVIRONMENTS

1: This planet is dark and cold most of the time. It is very mountainous. It rains almost all day. Because of the wet, dark conditions, the only plants that grow well are small mosses and funguses. Animals on this planet include a type of mouse, a nocturnal hunting large cat, fish, and a variety of insects.

2: This planet is dry and hot. Most of the planet is flat. Water is found in underground streams but there is little water on the surface of the planet. Most of the planet's surface is covered in sand, although there are patches of dry grass. When plants can get their roots down into the water table, they grow into tall trees with leaves at the top but not along the trunk. Plants which are not connected to the water table are small and dry, but they are edible. Animals on this planet include insects, a species of birds which roost in the high trees, a sand-colored lizard and a type of rat.

3. This planet is tropical: wet and hot. Most of the planet is covered by rainforest. The planet is very flat. Water collects in large pools and lakes which have water in them all year 'round. A species of poisonous plant grows thickly on the ground. The spines of this plant are poisonous, and any animal which steps on one is sure to die. The vegetation is plentiful, and includes leaves, fruits and nuts. Animals include carnivorous snakes, varieties of insects, monkeys, fish and birds.

4. This planet has a moderate climate. It never gets very hot or very cold, but stays mild all year 'round. It rains for part of the year and the water forms pools and lakes which dry up towards the end of the year and then the planet is very dry. The planet is partly mountainous and partly flat. Vegetation includes tall trees with high leaves and fruit, and a smaller plant which bears nuts. However, these nuts are inside hard shells which need to be removed before the nut can be eaten. Animals include rats and mice which live underground, insects, birds that nest in the tall trees, slow moving mammals which also live in the trees and a species of carnivorous nocturnal wolf.

A Year in Ms. Fortner's 8th Grade Science Classroom

First Semester: We will focus on Life Science including cells, genetics, and diversity AND physics..