Compare Scientist-Classroom Cases

classic Classic list List threaded Threaded
1 message Options
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Compare Scientist-Classroom Cases

Amanda Buck
I chose grade 4 video Heavy for Size. In the video the scientist discusses how using the senses is not a reliable way to measure weight. He always discusses How errors can creep into volume measurements and why errors on the digital scale keep changing.

The student video I chose was the grade 4 classroom case: The role of consolidation discussions. The students begin the experiment by making a prediction. They decide which container of liquid has the greatest volume. After their predictions students come up with a way to test their predictions. One group poured the liquid from each container into separate plastic cups and decided that the volumes were the same. Finally the students came back together and answered the questions “What did we do? Why did we do it? What did we find out? The teacher provided these questions to frame the conversation and help students communicate their thinking.

When comparing the two videos you see students make predictions based on their senses followed by them using a plastic cup to compare the volumes. In the scientist video he used a graduated cylinder to measure the volume. In my classroom I will have to help with the discussion much like the teacher did by providing the essential questions to frame the conversation about the experiment.