Quest: The Night Terror- A Nature of Science Observation/Inference Challenge
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Challenge your students with this engaging bundle for the nature of science, bias, and graphing! Begin with the nature of science, focusing on observations and inferences. Your students will construct models and defend their claims with evidence. Your class will then explore concepts in bias. TheyPrice $65.99Original Price $86.33Save $20.34
Description
A farmer's cattle has been attacked at night by an unknown predator in the game world of Aureus Imperium! He begs your students to help him discover the predator's identity so that he can protect his remaining cattle! Your students will use evidence found at the farm as well as bite marks discovered on the injured cattle's hide to infer the predator's identity! Their inferences must be based on careful observations rather than opinions and assumptions.
Although students are engaged with trying to discover the "real" predator's identity, they learn that things are not so cut and dry in science and that you must support your claims with evidence to provide the most plausible explanation for that evidence. This lesson includes 26 separate scenarios! Add this activity to your Nature of Science Unit and watch as they debate the evidence in this student-driven quest!
Combine this activity with Halloween prop skulls for an even more engaging activity! Students can collect measurements on plastic Halloween skulls and then compare the bite marks with the jaws of the prop skulls. Include other realistic items such as fur, claws, and broken teeth at "evidence locations" throughout your room or building to make a truly hands-on experience your students will not soon forget!
This activity includes a suggested lesson plan, student activity sheet, evidence cards for students to manipulate or to post digitally, and 26 different scenarios! You could also have them investigate 3-D plastic skulls commonly available at Halloween stores to further engage your students! Note, prop skulls are sold separately but are readily available online and at Halloween stores!
Learning Target:
I can make observations and develop inferences based on evidence.
I can make qualitative and quantitative observations accurately.
Combine this with the Nature of Science Notes as a foundation for this quest! Don't forget the Science Process Skills Companion Guidebook!
Other Nature of Science Quests include:
Quest- The Case of the Missing Thermometer
Copyright © 2022 Daniel Hellmund, Hellmund Science
All rights reserved by author.
Permission to copy for classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to classroom use only.
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Hellmund Science offers a variety of gamified science labs, notes, projects and games with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Project-Based Learning in mind. Gamification allows for Positive Behavioral Intervention Support as well as differentiation. Using this format, students learn to work together and choose the path of their liking to master various learning targets. Your students will play to learn!
