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A Whale of a Problem. Created By: Amy Taylor Hazelwood Central High School. To Teacher Page To Activity. Teacher’s Page. Grade Level: 10 MAP Content Standards:
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A Whale of a Problem Created By: Amy Taylor Hazelwood Central High School To Teacher PageTo Activity
Teacher’s Page • Grade Level: 10 • MAP Content Standards: • The learner will be able to talk about the scientific, technological, and political parts of the scientific challenges to society, and explain how they impact the creation of public policy. • The learner will be able to comprehend that humans have a large impact on other species, the environment, and technology.
MAP Content Standards, cont… • The learner will be able to interpret the possible impact of technological solutions on people or the environment. • The learner will be able to judge the possible impact of technological solutions on people or the environment.
Tips for Classroom Use: • Preview the activity before using it with your class. • Journaling: • This activity is intended to be used in conjunction with journaling. • The notebook icon will prompt the students when to journal in their notebooks.
Focus on the process of problem-solving with your students…they need to understand not only the facts,but the reasoning behind them. Have them write their thoughts on paper and then discuss them as a class
A Whale of a Problem • Here’s the situation: • A dead whale has washed up onto a popular local beach. • It weighs approximately 8 tons. • It is approximately 45 feet long.
It is your job to solve the problem:What do you do with a dead whale? • Use the scientific method to help you make the most logical choice… • What are the steps involved when using the scientific method to solve a problem?
Check Your Answer! • STEP 1: State the problem. • STEP 2: Make observations and gather background information. • STEP 3: Form a hypothesis. • STEP 4: Design an experiment to test your hypothesis. • STEP 5: Run a controlled test. • STEP 6: Analyze your data. • STEP 7: State your conclusions.
There are many different interpretations to the steps involved in the scientific method. Perhaps you have been exposed to a model that has either more or fewer steps than these…but they all involve the same principle. THERE IS A LOGICAL WAY TO APPROACH PROBLEM-SOLVING.
Pinpoint the problem you wish to solve. • Research the situation. • Design a logical and controlled way to solve the problem. This technique is not limited to laboratory situations… IT CAN BE USED EVERYDAY.
In your journal... • Define the problem that you need to solve. • Record your observations…describe all important factors that are involved with the situation. • Brainstorm at least 3 options that would help you solve the problem. • Develop 5 questions that you need to have answered to determine the best way to solve the problem. • Form your hypothesis.
Discuss your ideas as a class. During your discussion, be sure to… • Make sure that all the relevant factors concerning the dead whale and the community are discussed (odor, sanitation, affect on tourism & businesses, etc.)
Discuss all of the research that would need to be done…what do you want to know and what sources would you seek to find that information? • Discuss all of the possible options. • Be sure your hypotheses address the problem at hand and how YOU will solve it. (“If there is a dead whale, then it will stink,” IS NOT A GOOD HYPOTHESIS.)
This situation was very real for the town of Florence, Oregon not long ago. Watch a local news broadcast that covered the story and see how this town chose to deal with this WHALE of a problem.
What do you think? • Describe the actual event that you just witnessed. • What can be learned from this? Discuss your answers with your class.