Experimenting with Science

Abstract: The provided materials were used for a workshop at the 2018 COABE Conference. The session was designed to familiarize participants with the scientific method by exploring how it plays out in experiments that can be conducted in any classroom, regardless of science lab materials.  For example, data from the participants’ ruler drop experiment were used to analyze the reaction time of fighter pilots.  We also examined how to identify the control, independent variable, and dependent variables, as well as draw a conclusion, in various scenarios from The Simpsons cartoon.  We looked at content problems similar to what might be on the HSE test, and explored strategies and resources for teaching this content to students.  Resources include exploring www.CK12.org and the National Institutes of Health Curriculum Supplement Series (https://science.education.nih.gov/customers/WebPages/CSHome.html).  Both of these free resources are easily adaptable to a classroom, as well as online, and encourage students to interact and discover the scientific process along the way.