Teaching Science Process in Middle School:

:Science process is one of my all time favorite subjects to teach in middle school.  It captures students natural curiosity and is truly enjoyable to watch kids explore and discover.  Every year needs to begin with a review of the basic process, skills and measurements that will be used.    So what content do we include?  Here's the sequence of lessons I like to use.

Science Process Lesson 1 What is Science
Getting Started
My Favorite activity to start with is asking students to pass through a sheet of paper.  All you need is paper and scissors.  The rules are pretty simple. 

1. You may not fasten the piece of paper back together. 
2. All work must be done by cutting only.  

Most kids will make a few early attempts and get easily frustrated.  Eventually, one student figures it out and everyone tries it.  This simple activity models the use of the scientific method and how professionals need to be persistent in their discoveries.  If you never tried this activity, see the video to the right.  It will energize and motivate your students.

Lesson Content:
The major focus of this lesson is that science is based on observations.  Whether you are a theoretical physicists or an engineer.  You have to observe and measure the world.  Our senses are key to this ability.  During the lesson I either do a live presentation or a recorded online video while students follow along via a Cornell Notes Page.  Building notetakeing strategies is an important student in building students capacity to learn and process information.  I like to break this into two categories.  Basic notes for long term learning and a  written summary of synthesis of new materials. 
One of my favorite stories to share is how Alexander Flemming discovered penicillin.  Its a great story about a chance observation that saved millions of lives.  Based on the idea that he left a messy lab to run out on vacation, students can relate.  See the video for a great class story. 

 Reinforcement Activities: 
Sort-able practice activities, crosswords or read color and draw materials are the perfect way to have students better understand the concept of science.   Once complete a brief quiz online through Quizizz is a great way to engage and energize your students.  Looking for the complete lesson or some more ideas on how to structure this lesson.  See my complete Science Lesson one by following the link on the right.

This activity uses Coke and Diet Coke to demonstrate how different densities impact floating.  

Kids love testing paper towels in science.  This is a great quantitative experiment to help kids practice scientific inquiry.  

Over the history of the US, pennies have had a problem.  Several times the copper to make them was worth more than the penny.  The end result is a model activity that kids can experimentally seek out the year the US government changed the composition of the penny.  

Much has been said about the effectiveness of fidget spinners to help children with hyperactivity.  Why not test what the experts say, do fidget spinners improve academic performance, this experiment will help you find out.  

Looking for some instructional resources?  This PowerPoint bundle is fully editable and beautifully designed.  Using a conversational tone, teachers can guide their students through the basics of science process.  Best of all, you can easily edit and customize this lesson to fit your students needs.  

When I begin teaching about science process, I also teach computer skills.  Part of the process of data collection includes recording events using cameras.  In this lesson bundle student take pictures, manipulate images and create unique media products to reach higher levels of learning.  

Science process and metrics go hand in hand.  In this project, students design a metric race car.  Once they create their car, the need to determine which type of race fuel to use and complete an in class simulation to see who wins.