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What does a scientist do?
Experiments & Variables
Lesson narration:
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DISCUSS:
What do scientists DO?
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01/16
You’ll work with a partner.
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Get your supplies.
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03/16
Watch this video. Look closely to observe the termites. Discuss.
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04/16
We want to experiment. Discuss.
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05/16
Let’s test what happens when we change the shape of the line. This
will be our Shape Experiment.
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06/16
Let’s observe what the termites do in our Shape Experiment. Watch
closely to follow the path of the termite with a circle, a square, and a
triangle.
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07/16
Find the Shape Experiment in your Termite Tracker. Use your pencil
to draw the path that the termite took. Draw a path for the circle,
the square, and the triangle.
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08/16
Here are the results of our Shape Experiment.
Discuss.
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09/16
Here’s what we think.
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10/16
Let’s test what happens when we change what we use to draw the
line. This will be our Writing Tool Experiment.
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11/16
Time for our Writing Tool Experiment. We drew the same shape
using a pen, a marker, and a crayon. Watch carefully to see what each
termite does.
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12/16
Find the Writing Tool Experiment on your Termite Tracker. Draw the
path that each termite took. Draw a path for the pen, the marker,
and the crayon.
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13/16
Discuss.
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14/16
Here’s what we thought.
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15/16
Talk with your partner and discuss.
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16/16
School Year Challenge: Every time you’re curious about something
and ask questions, think about what experiments you could try!
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You've completed the activity!
If you have time, you can extend this activity to include the Color Experiment. Check out the Extensions for additional activity steps.
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01/20
You’ll work with a partner.
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Get your supplies.
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03/20
Turn your Termite Tracker facedown. Line up the corners and fold it
in half. Use your fingernail to make a crease. Fold it in half again along
the thin black line.
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04/20
Watch this video. Look closely to observe the termites. Discuss.
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05/20
We want to experiment. Discuss.
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Step
06/20
Let’s test what happens when we change the shape of the line. This
will be our Shape Experiment.
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07/20
Let’s observe what the termites do in our Shape Experiment. Watch
closely to follow the path of the termite with a circle, a square, and a
triangle.
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Step
08/20
Find the Shape Experiment in your Termite Tracker. Use your pencil
to draw the path that the termite took. Draw a path for the circle,
the square, and the triangle.
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09/20
Here are the results of our Shape Experiment.
Discuss.
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10/20
Here’s what we think.
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11/20
Let’s test what happens when we change the color of the line. Find
the Color Experiment in your Termite Tracker. Color the first pen
black, the second pen blue, and the third pen red.
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Let’s observe what the termites do in our Color Experiment. Draw
the path that each termite took. Draw a path for the black circle, the
blue circle, and the red circle.
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13/20
Discuss.
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14/20
Here's what we think.
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15/20
Let’s test what happens when we change what we use to draw the
line. This will be our Writing Tool Experiment.
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16/20
Find the Writing Tool Experiment in your Termite Tracker. Draw the
path that each termite took. Draw a path for the pen, the marker,
and the crayon.
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17/20
Discuss.
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18/20
Here’s what we thought.
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Talk with your partner and discuss.
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20/20
School Year Challenge: Every time you’re curious about something
and ask questions, think about what experiments you could try!
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🎉 That’s it for this lesson! How did it go?
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Optional Extra: K-2 Color Experiment
If you want, you can extend the activity to include the Color Experiment for K-2. We have provided an additional printout so students can record their results.
Go to the next slide to start the Color Experiment!
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01/04
Let’s test what happens when we change the color of the line. Get a
Color Experiment worksheet. Color the first pen black, the second
pen blue, and the third pen red.
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02/04
Let’s observe what the termites do in our Color Experiment. Draw
the path that each termite took. Draw a path for the black circle, the
blue circle, and the red circle.
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03/04
Discuss.
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04/04
Here’s what we think.
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What does a scientist do?
Experiments & Variables
Lesson narration:
Activity Prep
In the mini-lesson, students explore some things they do every day that scientists ALSO do: observe, ask questions, do experiments, and share their questions and learning. In the activity, Termite Tester, students virtually observe termite behavior and then do a series of virtual experiments to figure out the answers to their questions.
What you’ll need forstudents
| Termite Tracker (Grades 3-5) worksheet | 30 copies |
| Termite Tracker (Grades K-2) worksheet | 30 copies |
| Crayons (For grades 3-5 only. Each student will need a black, blue, and red crayon.) |
Details 90 crayons |
We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.
Creepy Crawly Caution
The observations and experiments in this activity are focused on termites. We think they’re small and cute, but if you have students who are particularly sensitive to seeing any type of creepy crawly, you may want to preview the lesson prior to presenting it to your class.
K-2 Versus 3-5 Activity
There are three experiments for 3-5 students (Shape, Color, and Writing Tool) and two experiments for K-2 students (Shape and Writing Tool). If you’d like to extend the activity to include the Color Experiment for K-2, we have an additional worksheet so students can record their results. You can find the activity steps for this extension here.
Teacher Background
If you are curious, the termites only follow ink from Bic brand pens because a chemical in the pen ink is similar to a scent that termites recognize. Termites don’t have eyes and rely on their sense of smell to know where to go! If you and your students are interested, you can even order termites online and bring them into your classroom for more hands-on experiments!
8 mins
30 mins
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