What is an Experiment?

Step aboard the Mayflower and uncover the secrets of experimentation as you navigate stormy seas and solve thrilling challenges! This escape room adventure teaches students the fundamentals of experiments, including questions, hypotheses, and observations. With the help of our “Adventure Guide” video, packed with essential information, you’ll have the tools you need to conquer each puzzle and complete your voyage successfully. Will you make it to the New World?

Lesson Plan: What is an Experiment?

Grade Level:

Elementary (Grades 3-5)

Time Frame:

1 Hour

Lesson Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Understand the Purpose of an Experiment: Explain why experiments are conducted and identify their importance in answering questions or solving problems.
2. Recognize the Components of an Experiment: Identify and define the parts of an experiment, including hypothesis, variables, procedure, observations, and conclusion.
3. Reflect on the Role of Observation and Experimentation: Discuss the value of experiments and how they contribute to discovery and learning.

Relevant Vocabulary:

1. Hypothesis – An educated guess or prediction that can be tested through an experiment.
2. Variable – A factor that can change (independent) or be measured (dependent) in an experiment.
3. Procedure – The step-by-step instructions for conducting an experiment.
4. Observation – The process of carefully watching and recording what happens during an experiment.
5. Conclusion – A summary that explains the results of an experiment and whether the hypothesis was correct.

Materials Needed:

1. Video ("Adventure Guide") – Provided to support instruction.
2. Online Escape Room – Used for student engagement and assessment.
3. Downloadable Worksheet – Optional for additional assessment or practice.

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction (10 Minutes)

• Objective: Introduce the concept of an experiment and its purpose.
• Activity:
  • Begin with a brief class discussion: “What do you think an experiment is?”
  • Highlight that experiments are methods to test ideas and solve problems systematically.
  • Share examples of experiments from daily life (e.g., testing which paper towel absorbs the most water).

2. Direct Instruction (15 Minutes)

• Objective: Teach the components of an experiment using the “Adventure Guide” video.
• Activity:
  • Play the “Adventure Guide” video, pausing at key moments to emphasize:
    • The definition of experiments.
    • Examples of hypotheses, variables, and procedures.
    • The role of observation and drawing conclusions.
  • Answer any student questions to clarify the content.

3. Engagement and Assessment (20 Minutes)

• Objective: Reinforce learning through interactive engagement.
• Activity:
  • Direct students to the online escape room, What is an Experiment? Voyage of the Mayflower.
  • Explain that students will navigate challenges related to experiments, applying what they’ve learned to complete the voyage.
  • Remind students they can rewatch the video using the Adventure Guide button on any escape room page if they need help.

4. Closure and Reflection (5 Minutes)

• Objective: Reflect on the value of experiments and review key concepts.
• Activity:
  • Lead a short class discussion:
    • “Why do we need experiments?”
    • “What was the most interesting part of the escape room?”
  • Reinforce that experimentation helps us learn, solve problems, and make discoveries.

Optional Assessment:

If additional assessment is needed, distribute the downloadable worksheet, which includes:

• Definitions and examples for matching vocabulary.
• Short-answer questions about the purpose and components of an experiment.
• A scenario for students to design their own simple experiment.

Teacher Notes:

• The escape room provides immediate engagement and assessment of student understanding.
• The downloadable worksheet can be used for further practice or as homework if class time is limited.
• Encourage students to use the Adventure Guide video as a resource throughout the lesson.

Teacher Reference Guide

This guide provides all the key information you’ll need to teach the topic "What is an Experiment?" in a structured and engaging way. Use this as your reference to explain the concepts clearly to students during the lesson.

Understanding the Purpose of an Experiment

An experiment is a systematic way of testing ideas, answering questions, or solving problems. It helps us understand how things work by observing the outcomes of controlled tests. For example, if you want to know which paper towel absorbs the most water, you would conduct an experiment to compare them. Experiments are essential for making discoveries and confirming or disproving predictions in science and everyday life.

Key Components of an Experiment

To conduct an experiment, several important elements must be included:

1. Question: This is the problem or inquiry the experiment seeks to address. For example, “What type of soil helps plants grow fastest?”
2. Hypothesis: This is an educated guess or prediction about what will happen in the experiment. A hypothesis should be specific and testable, such as “I think plants will grow faster in sandy soil.”
3. Procedure: These are the step-by-step instructions for conducting the experiment. The procedure should be clear enough for someone else to repeat it.
4. Variables:
   • Independent Variable: The factor you change in the experiment (e.g., the type of soil).
   • Dependent Variable: The factor you measure or observe (e.g., the plant’s growth).
   • Controlled Variables: The factors that remain the same to ensure a fair test (e.g., amount of water, sunlight, and type of plant).
5. Observation: This involves carefully watching and recording what happens during the experiment. Observations can include measurements, descriptions, or even photos.
6. Results: These are the data or findings you collect from the experiment. Results should be organized so they can be analyzed easily, often using charts or graphs.
7. Conclusion: At the end of the experiment, you review the results to determine whether the hypothesis was correct. Conclusions summarize what was learned and help answer the original question.

The Role of Observation and Experimentation

Observation and experimentation work together to help us understand the world. Observations are made using our senses or tools to gather information. Experimentation takes it a step further by testing ideas under controlled conditions to determine cause-and-effect relationships. Experiments also emphasize the importance of being systematic and fair—changing only one variable at a time and repeating tests to confirm results.

How to Teach Using the Video and Escape Room

1. Video ("Adventure Guide")

   • Introduce the video to students as their primary source of information for the lesson.
   • Highlight that the video explains key concepts like hypothesis, variables, and conclusions.
   • Encourage students to rewatch the video during the escape room if they need help understanding any part of the lesson.

2. Online Escape Room

   • The escape room serves as both an engaging activity and an assessment tool.
   • Students will apply what they’ve learned by solving challenges based on experiments aboard the Mayflower.
   • Remind students that they can click the Adventure Guide button on any question page to review the video if they get stuck.

By using this guide, you’ll provide students with a comprehensive understanding of experiments while keeping the lesson fun and interactive. The combination of the instructional video, escape room, and optional worksheet ensures students stay engaged while mastering the material.

Teacher Answer Sheet

Captain's Quarters Questions

1. What is the purpose of an experiment?

   • A) To test ideas, answer questions, or solve problems systematically

2. What is the first step in an experiment?

   • A) Asking a question

3. Which of these is an example of a good experiment question?

   • A) "What type of soil helps plants grow fastest?"

4. What is a hypothesis?

   • A) An educated guess about what might happen in an experiment

5. Why is it important to start an experiment with a clear question?

   • A) To focus on solving a specific problem

Cargo Hold Questions

1. The procedure of an experiment is a step-by-step plan for how to conduct the experiment.

   • True

2. An independent variable is what you measure in an experiment.

   • False

3. Controlled variables must stay the same throughout the experiment to ensure fair results.

   • True

4. It’s okay to change multiple variables at once in an experiment because it will give you more results.

   • False

5. Observations are made by watching carefully and recording data during the experiment.

   • True

Crow’s Nest Questions

1. Why is it important to make observations during an experiment?

   • A) To gather data and record what happens

2. What does a conclusion do in an experiment?

   • A) Summarizes the results and explains whether the hypothesis was correct

3. What should you do if your hypothesis is incorrect?

   • A) Learn from the results and revise your hypothesis

4. Why is repeating an experiment important?

   • A) To confirm the results and ensure accuracy

5. What is the difference between observation and experimentation?

   • A) Observation gathers information; experimentation tests ideas