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3 Enquiry: questions, evidence, and

States of matter
explanations Lesson plan
Lesson 3
 
Student book, pages 12–13
CD resources Objective
■ Worksheet 1.3.1
■ Worksheet 1.3.2 • Understand why questions, evidence, and explanations are important in
science
■ Scientific investigation
flowchart Overview
This lesson takes students through one process by which scientists develop
explanations, and which is summarised in the flow chart on page 13 of the
Student book. Students start by discussing a selection of questions – which
could be answered scientifically? This leads to the point that scientific questions
are ones that the collection of evidence will help to answer. The lesson then
focuses on one question – why does water boil at different temperatures in
different places? Students use evidence to test a possible explanation for this
question.
The flowchart on page 13 of the Student book is included on the CD-ROM with
and without the text. This flowchart can be used to guide students through the
process of developing scientific theories.

Activities
• Student pairs discuss the questions on worksheet 1.3.1. Which could be
answered scientifically? Make the point that scientific questions are ones that
the collection of evidence will help to answer.
• Student book pages 12–13 (for teacher reference – do not show students at
this stage). Tell students that water boils at different temperatures in
Mumbai, a city by the sea, and Leh, a city in the mountains (use local
examples if possible). Ask students to suggest a scientific question based on
this evidence, for example: Why does water boil at different temperatures in
different places? Begin building up a flow chart with this question at the top
(Student book page 13).
• Suggest an explanation to the question in the previous activity– boiling point
depends on altitude. Add this stage to the flow chart (Student book page 13).
• Worksheet 1.3.2 (first part): Ask students how they could test the
explanation suggested in the previous activity. Students plot line graphs of
boiling temperature vs. altitude. Add this stage to the flow chart (Student
book page 13).
• Worksheet 1.3.2 (second part): Students check the evidence supports
the explanation. Add this stage to the flow chart. Point out that scientific
explanations may lead to more questions!

Homework
Workbook page 9

Key words
question, evidence, explanation

 
© Oxford University Press 2013: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute 3