Hypothesis Lesson 

SUMMARY:
In this lesson students in grades 6-8 during the early part of the school year will be introduced to the concept of formulating a hypothesis as viewed in the Knowledge Stream video clip with Dr. Robert Heath, clip 1.  Students will be given a simple problem to formulate a reasonable hypothesis that students will then test.  As the hypothesis is tested students will gather data to support or reject their hypothesis. Students will then explain if their hypothesis was correct and support it with evidence obtained.   As an extension to the lesson, students will generate a more complex problem to formulate a hypothesis for and then test.  Students may determine the experiment.

CONTENT STANDARDS:
Area: K-12 Science
Grades: 6, 7, 8

Statement: Scientific Inquiry
Benchmark: Explain that there are differing sets of procedures for guiding scientific investigations and procedures are determined by the nature of the investigation, safety considerations and appropriate tools.
Indicators: Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L06.I01, Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L07.I03, Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L08.I01
Explain that there are not fixed procedures for guiding scientific investigations; however, the nature of an investigation determines the procedures needed.

Statement: Scientific Inquiry
Benchmark: Explain that there are differing sets of procedures for guiding scientific investigations and procedures are determined by the nature of the investigation, safety considerations and appropriate tools.
Indicators: Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L06.I01, Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L07.I03, Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L08.I01
Formulate and identify questions to guide scientific investigations that connect to science concepts and can be answered through scientific investigations.

Statement: Scientific Inquiry
Benchmark: Explain that there are differing sets of procedures for guiding scientific investigations and procedures are determined by the nature of the investigation, safety considerations and appropriate tools.
Indicators: Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L06.I01, Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L07.I03, Y2003.CSC.S05.G06-08.BA.L08.I01
Choose the appropriate tools or instruments and use relevant safety procedures to complete scientific investigations.