Independent Investigation Guidelines for Sixth Grade
Middle school students should be introduced to the process of scientific inquiry through a variety of scientific activities and lessons. The best way to ignite a sixth grader’s interest in science is via hands-on activities, like independent scientific investigations. Independent investigation also improves a sixth grader’s grasp of the topic. Students should be encouraged to create their own experiments on a given topic and to follow the independent investigation format.
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Learning Scientific Inquiry through Independent Investigation
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Independent investigations include but are not limited to collecting specimens, conducting experiments, describing and observing events or organisms or objects, discovering new phenomena, ideas and objects (for study), making models and seeking advanced information. It is also possible for a sixth grader to come up with new techniques for conducting experiments or collecting data.
Independent Investigation Format
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Sixth graders should create a question based on what they want to find out or research. The students should frame a question related to their topic. They should take into consideration if their question can be answered through an experiment they develop. The question should not be confusing and it should be meaningful. The hypothesis has to be specific and the students must use complete sentences. A sixth grader has to state his thoughts on what might happen.
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Independent Investigation Guidelines
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Next is the procedure which involves demarcating specific, numbered steps that will lead to the answer. It is as if you are giving directions for others to follow. Describe how the data was collected, how reliable and accurate results were ensured and how you addressed safety issues. Whatever data you need to display should be demonstrated in an organized way, using charts or using tables and labels. The hypothesis must be disproved or proved through sufficient and adequate data.
Guidelines for Independent Investigation
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The analysis or conclusion will consist of the incidents that occurred during the experiment, whether or not the results support not only the hypothesis but also the inference -- which is a synopsis of what the experiment has taught you. You should also mention if the results are reliable; if you got any kind of unexpected results; steps you will take to fetch different results next time; and to use complete sentences for making your inference.
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