Scientific Method Interactive PowerPoint Case Study #2: Bark of the Willow Tree

Case study activity in the convenient form of a PowerPoint - interactive, cross-disciplinary, and engaging!

The second in a collection of case studies which promote a deeper understanding of the scientific method (Check out the first case study for FREE - What's Wrong With Nya?) Note: Each case study is a stand alone. You can do just one, or all of them.

Bark of the Willow Tree
In this case study, you are a doctor in colonial America. Colonists begin falling ill, and you decide to try some medical practices popular with the local Powhatan tribe.
Just to be on the safe side, you use three types of treatments. When the patients get better, students are tasked with devising a plan to figure out which was the effective treatment - which will inevitably lead to a discussion about the importance of having a single independent variable! Students develop a hypothesis and create an experimental design.
Along the way, students learn a little history, and some interesting facts about aspirin.

Great for middle school, high school, and home school