Spaghetti lab

Content
Information
Standards
Reviews

Type:

Interactive

Description:

This is a great lab that helps students understand independent and dependent variables, constants, and the scientific method.

Subjects:

Science > General

Education Levels:

Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Other

Keywords:

variables constants scientific method spaghetti lab

Language:

English

Access Privileges:

Public - Available to anyone

License Deed:

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Collections:

Jamie's Default Collection
Jamie's Life Science Collection

Update Standards?

SCI.5.2.A: Science

describe, plan, and implement simple experimental investigations testing one variable;

SCI.5.2.B: Science

ask well-defined questions, formulate testable hypotheses, and select and use appropriate equipment and technology;

SCI.5.2.C: Science

collect information by detailed observations and accurate measuring;

SCI.5.2.D: Science

analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations from direct (observable) and indirect (inferred) evidence;

SCI.5.2.E: Science

demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results;

SCI.5.2.F: Science

communicate valid conclusions in both written and verbal forms; and

On a scale of 0 to 3

This resource was reviewed using the Curriki Review rubric and received an overall Curriki Review System rating of 2, as of 2008-08-26.

Component Ratings:

Technical Completeness: 3
Content Accuracy: 3
Appropriate Pedagogy: 2

Reviewer Comments:

In this middle school lab exercise students test the strength of a single strand of spaghetti using readily available materials. The activity could also be easily used in a late elementary classroom with little or no modification. The activity is well described, and there is space for students to reflect on the ideas of independent versus dependent variables, as well as the important scientific strategies of constants and multiple trials. This activity could benefit from a teacher introduction or some sort of answer key in order to make this lesson immediately useful for teachers of all levels of experience. This is one of those great labs – quick, simple, inexpensive and a springboard for further discussion of experimental design.

norm price

August 16, 2010

i like this as a hw in case I can't do it class.