Gold Seal Lesson:
Toothpaste:  A Consumer's Report

Copernicus Education Gateway

 

Subject:

Science

Grade:

 

 

9-12

 

 

ICLE Standards:

 

 

Science as Inquiry: Develop the abilities of scientific inquiry.

 

 

Performance Task:

 

 

Manufacturers must constantly carry out research on their products in order to remain competitive in the market place. This task requires you to design an experiment to investigate the performance of toothpaste and make a decision regarding the best consumer buy on the market. You are to design an experiment, carry out the experiment and observe and analyze your results. In your journal, write a complete report of your experiment, including your findings, predictions, and conclusions. Indicate which product you found to be the best consumer buy and justify your choice. Write a brief explanation of what you learned about scientific inquiry from this experiment.

 

 

Knowledge / Skills:

 

 

Know and apply the principles of scientific inquiry.  (s114)

Use writing as a tool for learning in formats such as learning logs, laboratory reports, note-taking, and journals.  (ela40)

 

 

Rubric:

 

 

4 Points  =  The student is able to complete the experiment without coaching. He/she shows understanding of experimental design and is able to carry out an experiment. He/she can make valid conclusions to the experiment. The student can identify the best consumer product from the inquiry and can make a connection between this and consumer purchasing. The entry in the student's journal is complete, and valid conclusions are stated.

 

 

3 Points  =  The student is able to complete the experiment with minimal coaching. He/she seems to understand consumer products and purchasing, but the connections to his/her experiment are not convincing. The student addresses all items in his/her journal but has difficulty communicating conclusions.

 

 

2 Points  =  The student needs much coaching to complete the experiment. He/she is unable to draw conclusions from the experiment and has gained only partial understanding of the inquiry process and of experimental design. The student is unable to link the inquiry to an understanding of consumer products and purchasing. The entry in the student's journal is incomplete. Conclusions are minimal and are vaguely stated.

 

 

1 Point  =  Even with extensive coaching, the student does not complete the task. He/she shows no understanding of experimental design or of the inquiry process. The student does not conduct a viable experiment; therefore, no valid conclusions nor connections to consumer purchasing are made. His/her journal is meaningless, and no conclusions are stated.

 

 

Keywords:

 

 

CHEMISTRY
SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
PREDICTION
EXPOSITION                 
EARTH SCIENCE
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

 

 

Grades:

 

 

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [] - 6 [] - 7 [] - 8 [] - 9 [X] - 10 [X] - 11 [X] - 12 [X]

 

 

ICLE Application:

 

 

D

 

 

 

 

 

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