Lesson Plan: Second Day of School - Life Science (7th Grade)

Learning Intention: - To introduce students to the scientific method and its importance in conducting scientific investigations. - To understand the steps involved in the scientific method and how they are applied in real-life scenarios.

Success Criteria: - Students will be able to define and explain the scientific method. - Students will be able to identify and describe the steps involved in the scientific method. - Students will be able to apply the scientific method to solve a given problem.

Materials: - Whiteboard or chart paper - Markers - Handout with a scenario for guided practice - Individual whiteboards or paper for independent practice - Markers or pencils for independent practice

Procedure:

1. Introduction (5 minutes): - Greet the students and briefly recap the previous day’s lesson. - Explain that today’s lesson will focus on the scientific method, which is a systematic approach used by scientists to investigate and solve problems.

2. Definition and Explanation of the Scientific Method (10 minutes): - Write the definition of the scientific method on the board: “The scientific method is a step-by-step process used by scientists to answer questions or solve problems through systematic observation, experimentation, and analysis.” - Discuss the importance of following a structured approach in scientific investigations. - Explain that the scientific method helps scientists to ensure their experiments are reliable, repeatable, and can be verified by others.

3. Steps of the Scientific Method (15 minutes): - Write the steps of the scientific method on the board:
   1. Ask a question or identify a problem.
   2. Conduct background research.
   3. Formulate a hypothesis.
   4. Design and conduct an experiment.
   5. Collect and analyze data.
   6. Draw conclusions.
   7. Communicate results. - Discuss each step in detail, providing examples and clarifying any questions or confusion from the students.

4. Guided Practice (15 minutes): - Distribute the handout with a scenario that requires the application of the scientific method. - Read the scenario aloud and ask students to identify the steps of the scientific method that should be followed to solve the problem. - Discuss their answers as a class, providing feedback and guidance as needed.

5. Independent Practice (15 minutes): - Instruct students to work individually or in pairs. - Provide each student/pair with a whiteboard or paper and markers/pencils. - Present a new scenario or problem related to a life science concept. - Ask students to apply the scientific method to solve the problem, writing down the steps they would follow. - Circulate the classroom, providing support, cues, and prompts as necessary.

6. Wrap-up and Discussion (5 minutes): - Bring the class back together and ask a few students to share their solutions and the steps they followed. - Summarize the importance of the scientific method in conducting scientific investigations. - Remind students to always think critically and systematically when approaching scientific problems.

Note: The scenarios used in the guided and independent practice should be age-appropriate and relevant to the life science curriculum.