Scientific Method Research Project - Fathers of the Scientific Method

This mini-research project combines language arts skills with science learning for a great cross-curricular activity about who discovered the scientific method. Students research the lives and accomplishments of 5 people who are considered among the fathers of the scientific method and then write a report about their findings. You can use this resource at the beginning of a unit about the scientific method to introduce the topic to your students or at the end to extend their learning.

✓ Please note:

This resource is also available in a money-saving Scientific Method Bundle that includes 2 additional products, available HERE.

Resource at a Glance:

★ What will students learn?

* How 5 scientists, who all lived before 1300 A.D. in Africa, Asia and Europe, developed the scientific method.

* Why these 5 scientists are thought of as “fathers of the scientific method."

★ Who is it for?

All students, including English Language Learners at an intermediate level of language proficiency, in regular education Science classes.

★ How does it help teachers?

* Learning background information about the scientific method provides context for a unit on the scientific method.

* Learning about some scientists who lived in Africa and Asia shows how non-Western cultures contributed to achievements in science.

* Incorporating research, reading, and writing skills provides a cross-curricular approach to Science lessons.

* 3 organizers help students, especially those who need additional support, do the work.

What an educator who has used this resource says about it:

♥ "Great way to start the year" -- A buyer.

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What you get in this product:

★ A table of contents (1 page)

★ A Notes to the Teacher section with explanatory information (1 page)

★ A list of the ELA Common Core standards this resource helps address (2 pages)

★ Example WIDA Model Performance Indicators (1 page)

★ Background information about 5 fathers of the scientific method, in color and black-and-white versions (1 page each for a total of 2 pages)

★ Objectives and directions for students, in color and black-and-white versions (1 page each for a total of 2 pages)

★ Black-and-white images of the 5 fathers of the scientific method, in large and small sizes (3 pages)

★ A note-taking graphic organizer (2 pages)

★ A pre-writing graphic organizer (2 pages)

★ A list of resources graphic organizer (2 pages)

★ Cover pages for writing the biography report (2 versions for a total of 2 pages)

★ Lined page for writing the biography report (1 page)

★ An assessment checklist for evaluating student's reports, in color and black-and-white versions (1 page each for a total of 2 pages)

More Info:

This resource includes materials to help your students write short biographies of 5 famous scientists who were instrumental in establishing the importance of the scientific method. A page with some facts about each scientist is included for reference and as a starting point; it comes in color and black-and-white so you can either share the color version on a screen and/or photocopy and distribute the black-and-white version to your students. Students choose 1 of the scientists to research and then use other materials to learn more about the person they selected. Black-and-white images of the 5 scientists, in large and small sizes, are included and students can use them to illustrate their biography reports.

A page with objectives and instructions for students is provided along with an assessment checklist for evaluating students' biography reports. Both are available in color and black-and-white versions.

There are 3 organizers in this resource to help students write their reports:

* For note-taking as they conduct their research,

* For pre-writing to help them organize their information,

* For listing the sources they consulted.

Also included are 3 pages that students can use to write their biographies. One is a cover page and just has space for a large image of a scientist. Another cover page has space for a small image of a scientist as well as space to begin writing their biography reports. The third page just has lines on it and students can use it with either cover page to write their reports.

A page listing the ELA Common Core standards this resource helps address is provided. Example Model Performance Indicators (MPIs) for teachers who have ELLs in their classes is also included for teachers who work in WIDA Consortium states.

This cross-curricular activity can last as long as you like depending on how much time you allocate for doing the research and writing. You can even extend the learning by having your students give oral presentations about the scientists they researched.

This mini-research activity lets students learn about some important scientists and also gives them practice in writing short research reports!

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You might also like these products:

★ Scientific Method Lesson Plan: Video Chat Talk with a Scientist

★ Scientific Method Poster, Word Search and Writing Task

★ Writing Bundle #1: Paragraphs, Summaries, Organizing Writing Into Essays & Outlines

★ ESL Word Walls for ELLs: Middle School Academic Core Content-Area Vocabulary

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Thank you and happy teaching!

Common Core Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Any claims of correlation or alignment to the CCSS Standards are solely those of The ESL Nexus and have not been evaluated or endorsed by the NGA. The ESL Nexus is the sole creator of this product and does not claim endorsement or association with the creators of the CCSS standards.

Any claims of correlation or alignment to the WIDA ELD standards are solely those of The ESL Nexus and have not been evaluated or endorsed by the WIDA Consortium. The ESL Nexus is the sole creator of this product and does not claim endorsement or association with the creators of the WIDA standards.

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