Materials:
|
- A coffee can which is specially constructed with
a slanted metal piece (or shelf) attached on the
inside
- A glass of water or an egg
|
| Directions: |
- Hold the coffee can above the observers to ensure
that they can not view what is inside.
- Pour a glass of water directly into the coffee
can. Note: do not let observers see inside to
coffee can. Tip the can so the water or egg is on
the shelf which will not allow it to spill out.
|
| Safety Concerns: |
- None.
|
| Questions: |
- Describe exactly what you observed.
- Based on your observations, describe or draw what
might be in the coffee can.
- Are you making an educated guess about what
occurred?
- What is the scientific word for making an
educated guess?
- How might you collect further information to
support your educated guess?
- Write down some examples in which scientists have
made educated guess about natural events that
occur to try to explain what is happening in the
world.
|
| Concepts: |
- This demonstration is an excellent way to
introduce the Scientific Method because it deals
with observing and recording observations.
Furthermore, the students can make an educated
guess (hypothesis) about what might be occurring.
Students can also be introduced to the idea that
in science there are many wonders that scientist
can not fully explain. Scientists can only make
observations and try to collect as much
information as possible and based on the
knowledge they gain from these observations they
can hypothesize about what is happening. For
example, scientists did not actually see the
dinosaurs that lived during the Triassic Period.
However, they can make predictions because of the
evidence that was left behind in the fossil
record.
|
