You, a Rocket Scientist!

Subject Area(s):

• K-12: Science
• K-12: Technology
• Higher Ed: English/Literature

Grade Level(s):

• 5th-6th Grade

Description:

5th and 6th grade science teacher and SLMS will work together on unit. Unit is meant to further the students' knowledge of the scientific process by creating their own science project. The information skills of performing research, writing a research paper, and correctly citing sources (at an elementary level) will be used. Students will come up with a scientific question for which they can research and create an experiment. Students will create an oral and visual presentation for the class.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

1. Students will access information effectively and efficiently.
2. Students will present information in a prescribed format.
3. Students will demonstrate the scientific process through experimentation.
4. Students will appropriately interact as a learning community through listening and asking questions.

Learning Objectives:

1. Students will successfully locate at least one book and at least one web site on their topic.
2. Students will produce a 500-700 word report on their topic complete with a cover, table of contents, hypothesis, outline, question, introduction, body, and experiment write-up.
3. Students will create a working model of their experiment.
4. Students will present 3-5 minutes to the class about their project.  This presentation will include a demonstration of the working model.
5. Students will actively participate in the presentations by asking at least 10 questions of other presenters (in total – not 10 of each presenter!)

Motivational Goals:

1.  To generate interest in the scientific process.
2.  To build student confidence in long-term projects.
3. To motivate students to continually question the world around them.

Materials:

see attached   

Procedures:

see attached

Assessment:

Learning Assessment Method(s):

� Observation internet searching

� Observation of book locating techniques

� Bibliography

� Report

� Presentation

Supporting Files:

• Rocket_Scientist_Davidson.doc
  Complete motivational lesson plan
• Science_Project_Contract.doc
  Contract to be sent home from parents and students to sign

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Identifies a variety of potential sources of information.
• Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Uses information accurately and creatively

• Organizes information for practical application.
• Integrates new information into one's own knowledge.
• Applies information in critical thinking and problem solving.
• Produces and communicates information and ideas in appropriate formats

Appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.

• Derives meaning from information presented creatively in a variety of formats.
• Develops creative products in a variety of formats.
• Subject: K-12: Science

National Content Standards (K-12)

Nature of Science

• Understands the nature of scientific knowledge
• Understands the nature of scientific inquiry