Lifeboats: Testing the Variable of Capacity

Science: Variables

Lifeboats: Testing the Variable of Capacity

By: Lauren Nixon      

Lesson# 6 of 10
Time Allotted: 45-50 minutes

GOALS

1: Science

Based on observations and science principles, identify questions that can be tested, design an experiment or investigation, and identify appropriate tools. Collect and record multiple observations while conducting investigations or experiments to test a scientific question or hypothesis. (Oregon Science Standard 5.3S.1)

4: Literacy

Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.(Oregon Common Core for English Language Arts 5.RI.4)

OBJECTIVES

1.4 Given a controlled experiment proposal template, students will be able to describe a         controlled experiment that tests lifeboat capacity, by correctly describing the question that the class is trying to answer, how the experiment will be controlled, and what the standard boat loading method should be, on their worksheet.

 1.8 After conducting a controlled experiment that tests the variable of capacity of a lifeboat, students will be able to describe the relationship between the capacity of the lifeboat and the number of pennies the lifeboat can support, by correctly stating on their Capacity: A Controlled Experiment worksheet that the greater the capacity of the lifeboat the more pennies it can  support.

 4.2   After conducting a controlled experiment, students will be able to propose a controlled  experiment that tests a different variable of the lifeboat system, by accurately identifying a different variable of the lifeboat system and describing an experiment that only changes one variable.

PRE-REQUISIT KNOWLEDGE

Students will need to have prior instruction on how to conduct a controlled experiment including how to set up a data table for collecting results. Students will need to have prior knowledge of what a variable is in science and how to identify them in an experiment.

MATERIALS

For Each Group

Lifeboat, paper cup (2cm, 2.5cm, 3.5cm, or 4cm) Tub filled half way with water Pennies Paper towels 3-4 brag sheets 3-4 Capacity: A Controlled Experiment worksheet  3-4 note cards

PROCEDURE

TIME	PROCERDURE: Teacher does…	PROCEDURE: Students do…
5 min.	A. Anticipatory Set The teacher introduces the class to the word capacity, by explaining that to find the capacity of a container is to find how much fluid it can hold. The teacher then tells the students that they will conduct a controlled experiment that tests lifeboats with different capacities to see if it will change the number of pennies the lifeboat can support.	A. Anticipatory Set  The students listen to the definition of capacity and what their experiment will be for that day’s lesson.
5 min.	B. Teaching The teacher then goes over the standard boat loading procedure with the class by having the science helper demonstrate under the document camera while the instructor talks through the procedure. The instructor then goes through the jobs of the experiment and the expectations of the class while working in a cooperative group.	B. Teaching The students watch and listen to the standard boat loading procedure, and fill in question one on their worksheet. Students listen to the rules of cooperative rules and what their job will be in their group.
25 min.	C. Individual Application The teacher assigns locations in the room where groups will conduct their experiment. The teacher walks around and monitors the groups’ progress. When all groups are done, the teacher records each group’s boat name, the capacity of their boat, and how many passengers the boat supported on the SMART Board. After the results have been recorded the teacher asks the class what they notice about the results. The instructor facilitates a discussion on the relationship between the capacity of the boat and the number of pennies it can support.	C. Individual Application Students work in their cooperative groups in order to test how the size of their boat affects the number of passengers it can support. While conducting the experiment, students make their own hypothesis, create a name for the boat, record data, and summarize their results. When students finish they return their supplies and go back to their seats to complete their Brag Sheet. Students record the class’s results on part two of their worksheet. Students volunteer their ideas and summarize what the relationship is on their worksheet.
10 min.	E. Closure After the discussion, the teacher informs the class that in the following lesson they will test another variable of the lifeboat system, and that it will be the class’s job to propose a controlled experiment that would test one variable. The teacher instructs the class to write a proposal for a controlled experiment that explains in detail what the experiment will be testing and how it will be tested. The teacher informs the class that the best proposal will be tested on Monday.	E. Closure The students listen to what they will be doing and begin working on their controlled experiment proposal.