Using inquiry skills
This lesson for grade 6 introduces students to important scientific skills such as observation, inference, prediction, classification, and communication. Students practice some of these skills and discuss how they may be used in various careers.
A lesson plan for grade 6 English Language Arts and Science
Provided by CareerStart
Learning outcomes
Students will explore careers and learn the science process skills (observing, inferring, predicting, classifying, making models, and communicating) that support the development of reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
Teacher planning
Materials needed
- Student handouts:
- “Think Like a Scientist” student reading (This article is also available as html. The PDF linked from this lesson plan includes student instructions.)
- Student activity pages
- Parent survey
- Paper
- Pencil
Time required for lesson
Approximately 50 minutes of class time.
Additional homework time will be needed.
Advance preparation
- Make copies of student handouts for each student.
- Match students up into pairs to do the activity sheets prior to teaching the lesson.
Procedure
- Pass out and read “Think Like a Scientist.” Have students put their name on their work and pass around a stapler during read-aloud. The teacher will model read-aloud, but stop frequently and ask students to talk (share-pair) with a neighbor sitting nearby about ideas that are important. (15 minutes)
- After reading, assign students a partner for the activity pages.
- Have students follow the procedure on the handout. There are 3 activities for the students to complete. Explain to the students that all work should be done together in the pair but each student must write down his or her own answers to turn in at the end. Otherwise, credit will not be given. During the paired work, move around the room. (25-30 minutes)
- At the end of the designated time, conduct a closing discussion. Students should be ready to speak because the questions for the discussion are listed on their papers.
- Questions for the discussion:
- Explain why you chose to put each career with a specific skill. Give an example.
- How were your answers different from those of your partner?
- List at least one additional skill needed for each career.
- What characteristics were most important to you when you made the groups?
- Send the parent survey home as extra credit/homework.
Websites
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Optional resources for more information on the topics covered in this lesson
- Learning Science
- A free learning community for teachers and students to share new tools to teach science, including real time data collection, simulations, inquiry-based lessons, remote instrumentation, microworlds, and imaging.
- WISE: The Web-based Inquiry Science Environment
- A free online learning environment for grades 5-12 where students examine real world evidence and analyze current scientific controversies.
- LifeWorks
- The National Institute of Health’s Office of Science Education offers over 100 scientific career descriptions and interviews, emphasizing the importance of planning to obtain the education required for specific careers.
- The Fun Works
- A website to show students how they can turn their interests into careers in science.
- BioWorksU
- This virtual university introduces students to life science careers using games, videos, and simulations. Also available in Spanish.
North Carolina curriculum alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 6
- Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
- Explain observations.
- Make inferences and predictions.
- Develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
