📖

Asking Scientific Questions

Scientific Method: Putting It All Together

Day 161of 180
Week 33of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Understand what makes a scientific question testable

2

Learn to distinguish between scientific and non-scientific questions

3

Practice creating questions that can be investigated

Proverbs 2:6

For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6 (WEB)

God gives us wisdom to ask good questions and seek understanding about His created world

📦 Materials Needed

  • Science journal
  • Pencil
  • Poster board or large paper
  • Colored markers

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and introduce the day's topic of asking good scientific questions. Share the memory verse and discuss how God gives us curiosity to explore His world.

💭 Review Question: What does it mean to ask a good question?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explain the difference between questions that can be scientifically investigated and those that cannot. Use simple, clear examples that third-graders can understand.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Scientific questions can be tested by observation or experiment
  • Good scientific questions have clear variables
  • Not all questions can be answered through scientific investigation
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What makes a question scientific?
  • Can we test every question we have?
  • How do scientists choose what to investigate?
3Activity: Question Sort Challenge (10 min)
brainstorming

Students will work in small groups to categorize questions as scientific or non-scientific

📝 Instructions:
  1. Divide into groups of 3-4
  2. Give each group a list of mixed questions
  3. Sort questions into 'Can Test' and 'Cannot Test' columns
  4. Be prepared to explain your reasoning
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Provide pre-written questions to sort

Challenge: Students create their own mix of questions to sort

4Closing (5 min)

Review what we learned about asking good scientific questions

📝 Review Questions:
  • What makes a question scientific?
  • Why can't all questions be answered by science?
  • How can curiosity help us learn about God's world?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for giving us curious minds to explore and understand Your wonderful creation. Help us ask good questions and seek wisdom. Amen.

Coming up: Tomorrow we will learn how to plan a scientific investigation!

Proverbs 2:6

For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Memory hand motions: Point to head (wisdom), open hands like a book (knowledge), tap temples (understanding)

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson introduces the critical skill of formulating testable scientific questions

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage curiosity
  • Help children understand not all questions are scientifically testable
  • Model asking good questions
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might confuse opinion-based or philosophical questions with scientific questions

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to distinguish between testable and non-testable questions

Extension Activities

  • Create a family science question board
  • Watch age-appropriate science documentaries
  • Visit a local science museum

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 162Back to Science