This document outlines activities from a life science unit on studying people scientifically. It includes procedures for experiments on safety rules, problem solving, disease causes, sensory perception, and the nervous system. Students will form hypotheses, follow scientific methods, make observations and inferences from evidence, and analyze variables in experiments. Key terms are defined, such as hypothesis, scientific method, ethics, and homeostasis.

1. Issues and Life Science
Unit A: Studying People
Scientifically
Mr. Forde
Scofield Magnet MS
2014 - 2015

2. Activity .5: Sept. 3, 2014
Getting Started: Write 2 – 3 things that you think would keep
science class safe.
Procedure:
1) Review the science lab rules with the class
2) Form a team of two and think of a science rule that you
would like to illustrate as a team.
3) Review the rubric for your first science grade.
3) Check in with Mr. Forde to get the OK to get started on a rule
to create.
4) Start creating the poster that you will present tomorrow!
Homework…. Have the science safety contract signed and
returned by tomorrow!

3. Let’s Save Poor Fred!

4. Activity 1: Saving Fred
Sept. 8, 2014
Getting Started: Write 2 - 3 sentences describing problem you solved revently
and how you solved it
Introduction: Read and summarize pg. A-4 in one sentence.

5. Key Words: Hypothesis, Scientific Method
Procedure: Write a procedure for SAVING FRED with your partners and complete it for
HW on Monday 9/8.
Homework for Tuesday 9/9: Answer Analysis Questions 1 – 4 on page A6 – A7.
Reflection: People face problems in their lives every day. What did you learn from this
activity that you can use to solve other problems? How do you think this compares with
how scientists solve problems?

11. Activity 2: The Pellagra Story
September 9/10, 2013
Getting Started: List 2 things that scientists could do to learn more about a
disease and its cause or causes?
Introduction: We read the intro.

12. Challenge: What are the common elements of all scientific
problem-solving methods?
Key Words: ethics, evidence, inference, observation
Results: See Worksheets
Fill in “Notes on the Pellagra Story” sheet
Complete “Observation and Inference” sheet
Compare “Dr. Goldberger and the Traditional Scientific Method’
<<Video Link --
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/odys08.sci.life.gen.pellagra/pellagra/>>
Analysis: Answer Analysis Questions 1a, 1b, 2a, (homework)
Reflection: Choose two careers that interest you (police officer, nurse, teacher, scientist,
etc.) and describe the kids of problems they face in their careers and how they solve them.

13. Key Words:
Hypothesis: An educated guess
Scientific Method: Steps that scientists use to complete
their work.
Ethics: Looking at what is right and wrong
Evidence: Info that is collected to see if something is true.
Inference: A conclusion based on evidence
Observation: Looking at something carefully.

14. Should a prisoner who participated
in Dr. Goldberger’s experiment on
Pallegra be allowed to be released
from prison?

15. Activity 5: Can you feel the difference?
September
Getting Started: Discuss designing an experiment. (Watch PBS Video-http://
pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/basketball.html)
Introduction: Read and summarize pg. A-20 in one/two sentences.

16. Challenge: What is the smallest distance apart at which you can still feel two points?
Key Words: variables, control variables, sample size, sensitivity
Procedure: We will read the procedures on pg. A21 - A23 together.
Results: See sheet

17. Key Words:
Variables-
Control Variables-
Dependent Variables
Independent Variables
Sample size:
Sensitivity:

18. Analysis: Answer Analysis Questions 1, 3, 4a, 4b and 6.
Reflection: How would you create an experiment to test a person’s sensitivity to sound?

19. Activity 5: Paper Shots
Getting Started: Discussion “How would you design a
basketball shooting experiment?”
(Watch PBS Video-http://
pbskids.org/dragonflytv/show/basketball.html)
Challenge: What are the variables of a well designed
experiment?
Key Words: Control Variable, Dependent Variable,
Independent Variable
Procedure: Each student shoots a paper ball 5x at 3, 6,
9,and 12 tiles to collect data.

20. Data Table:
3 tiles 6 tiles 9 tiles 12 tiles
Class Data:
1 meter shot 2 meter shot 3 meter shot

21. Control Variable- Those things you keep the same
in an experiment.
Dependent Variable- D = data, Data you are
collecting in your experiment.
Independent Variable- The change you are making
(studying) in an experiment.

22. Activity 6: Finding the Nerve
September 16, 2013
Getting Started: What and where are your 5 senses?
Challenge: Why do different parts of the body have different sensitivities to
touch?
Key Words: Homeostasis, Nerves, Nervous System, Neuron,
Procedure: Let’s read together. You will complete the stopping to think
questions at each section in your binder.

23. Analysis: Answer Analysis Questions 1 - 4

24. Key Words:
Nerves – a bundle of nerve cells
Neuron- a nerve cell
Nervous System- Your brain, spinal cord and
nerves.
Homeostasis- the ability to maintain a steady
environment.