Saturday, December 5, 2015

Using the Scientific Method in All Subjects, Including Life! - Part I



The Scientific Method is Fantastic for

All Subjects and for Life! 


The Scientific Method is a great method to use for teaching students how to solve problems and investigate questions in all educational subjects along with solving life situations. It is a wonderful way to teach students a thought process and method to solving all kinds of questions and situations. It's fluid approach to which step in the method receives the most emphasis is extremely useful. With some situations more emphasis and time may be placed on research and with others more emphasis may be placed on experiment and data. Even with the fluidity of where the main emphasis may be placed, it is a great method to use for all subjects. Read about the steps in the Scientific Method and how it may be applied to numerous educational subjects.

The Scientific Method & It's Applications Part I: Question & Research

In this 3 part series, I will be discussing how the Scientific Method may be used in all subjects including life.  Today, I'm starting with the first two processes in the Scientific Method - the Question and Research.  Be sure to check back each Monday through December as I discuss how the Scientific Method may be used in all subjects. 

1. Question
First, students should know and understand the question or purpose of what they wish to accomplish.  Whether you provide the question in the subject you are teaching or students develop their own question, it is important to outline what is being solved or studied.  What is the goal of the assignment?  What am I trying to solve?  What do you want to learn about?  What are you trying to answer?  These are a few of the 'main' questions that students may begin with.  Below are examples of questions for various subjects.
Science: What is your experiment on? Can a potato be a power source for a clock?
Reading: What is the goal of the reading assignment? What is the Author's Purpose?
Writing: What am I writing about? What should be on our lunch menu at school?
Math: What am I trying to solve? How many ways may I demonstrate 1/4 of a whole?
Art: What am I trying to accomplish? Complete a painting like Monet.
Social Studies/History: What is the goal of the assignment? What was Abraham Lincoln's impact on history and culture?
Life: State the Question or Purpose. What career path do I wish to follow in life?

2. Research
Second, students research their question or purpose.  Research may be executed in several ways, such as reading informational books, asking questions by interviewing others, searching the internet, and more.  With any form of research it is always important to cite the sources and take notes on the information.  Following are examples of how research may be conducted for the subjects listed.
Science:  Research a clock being powered by a radio by reading informational texts and websites.  What in the potato powers a clock?
Reading: Why do Author's write textual information?  Look for a paragraph about the Author in the text or story.  If it is a book, what does the cover page, back page, index page, or other pages say about the Author and the book?  Research why Author's write via interviews, reading texts, and searching online.  Research the Author of the text you are reading.
Writing:  Ask questions to research the lunch menu.  Interview cafeteria staff and administration - note all sources.  Some research questions may be, 'What is on the current menu?', 'Who chooses the menu and Why do they choose what they do for lunch?' 'What nutrition do students need?'  Research nutrition, lunch facts for schools, and more.
Math:  Research fractions.  Informational texts and technology may be searched for information on fractions and how they may be written.
Art: Research Impressionism & Monet.  Research may be conducted again by utilizing texts and the internet.  Some research items may also include types of paint or the art styles of Monet.
Social Studies/History: Research Abraham Lincoln, his contributions, cultural influences, and his impact on the United States and the World via the previous discussed ways to research.
Life: Research career path options by researching online in occupational texts, and interviewing people.

Be sure to check back each Monday through December as I discuss how the Scientific Method may be used in all subjects in this 3 part series or follow my blog to stay updated.   

Look for Part II - Dec. 14th.
and Part III - Dec. 21st.



I hope you enjoyed the first part of this 3 part blog on "Using The Scientific Method in All Subjects, Including Life!"  I firmly believe all subjects intertwine in education and in life - they all relate to one another.  Finally, I'm able to share my thoughts on how the Scientific Method relates to all subjects and hope this is useful to you and your learners.  Thank you for coming by to read and learn about the Scientific Method. 

Best Wishes, Ms Moore
Certified K-6, 6-9 math, and 6-9 science
©2015 M Moore, M Moore Educational Resources.  All rights reserved. You may share, pin, like, share, & repin, just not copy and/or resell it.  This article series is for non-commercial use and my not be resold or reprinted without the author's express written consent.

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12 comments:

  1. Such great ideas. Very creative way to use the Scientific Method.

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    1. Thank you, I stated this one time speaking with co-workers in education and with students when we reviewed the scientific method... it was engaging too to hear students' thoughts on how they may use the method with life, another subject, etc.

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  2. It seems to me that this is what education this age of information is all about, teaching students how to solve problems and investigate questions. Thanks for your articulate discussion!

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    1. It is, teaching them 'how to solve' problems and methods they may use to do that. I've stated this for years that the Scientific Method is great for this too, thankful to finally get it posted.

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  3. I loved thinking about this...it connects to all of my action research on metacognition and visible thinking. Thank you!

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    1. You are so very welcome. I hope it assists educators and learners in a method that may be utilized to facilitate thinking and learning.

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  4. Very cool! I love the way way of thinking can be transferred to other areas of learning.

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  5. I love thinking across curriculum and in terms of how things in one subject can be generalized to others. So smart! Looking forward to your upcoming posts on this topic!

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    1. Thank you. I do too, I believe all subjects do relate to each other.

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  6. What great ideas! I never thought of using the Scientific method in other disciplines before. Thank you for sharing.

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  7. What a great way to make connections across the curriculum! Students who are well versed with the Scientific Method can easily see how it may be used in other subjects...and in life...

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