#SEAWEEDMATTERS
Activity 1- Teacher Guide
Experiment & Lab Report
Learning Intentions:
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To refresh/learn how to write a lab report
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To identify the rates of reproduction of seaweed and understand its importance
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To be able to write a lab report after conducting an experiment
Success Criteria:
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I can conduct a lab experiment following my school's safety standards and in an appropriate manner
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I can write a lab report on an experiment using the correct structure
Curriculum Links:
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Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically, including identification of independent, dependent and controlled variables (VCSIS134).
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Use knowledge of scientific concepts to evaluate investigation conclusions, including assessing the approaches used to solve problems, critically analysing the validity of information obtained from primary and secondary sources, suggesting possible alternative explanations and describing specific ways to improve the quality of data (VCSIS139)
Background Information:
The purpose of this lesson is to give students insight into what a scientist does, including but not limited to conducting experiments and writing lab reports.
For Task 1, teachers are able to follow the video on the worksheet for a refresher on writing a lab report, the worksheet includes notes and tips as well. For Task 2 teachers can use the following link to learn more about seaweed, their structure and reproduction prior to the lesson if need be.
Note: This lesson runs for approximately 120-130 minutes and will need to be broken down into two lessons/ periods either over two days or during a double period time slot. To enhance the learning opportunity, if students are able to individually or teachers are able to conduct a field trip to an appropriate beach to collect the seaweed then it will show another dimension to what scientists do.
TASK 1- How to write a lab report- (Suggested time is 30 minutes)
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In this activity students are asked to watch a video on writing a lab report and answer questions as a follow along activity. This will provide a refresher for students who have done a lab report recently or a quick and easy learning guide to those who haven't/ can't remember.
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This activity can be done individually by the students while the teacher helps individuals or as a whole class where the teacher is required to play the video on the board and the teacher assists the whole class.
Note: If you prefer to give students the activity as a handout then it can be downloaded using the link provided. The answers can be found in the document linked.
TASK 2- Making Seaweed Babies- (Suggested time is 1 hour)
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For this activity students are to conduct an investigation into seaweed reproduction and then write a laboratory report on their method and findings.
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For this task teachers will need to obtain all the materials necessary including seaweed and microscopes, teachers will need to set up the materials and either do a quick demonstration or have students follow along with the teacher to obtain the results. Teachers will need to inform students of lab safety, using a microscope and the process of making a wet mount as show in the diagram in the worksheet.
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Teachers will also need to display/ draw the table on the board so that students in groups can add to the class data.
Note: If you prefer to give students the activity as a handout then it can be downloaded using the link provided. If an abundance of microscopes and seaweed is not accessible then the teacher can conduct the experiment as a demonstration and students can observe.
TASK 3- Writing your own lab report- (Suggested time 30-40 minutes)
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In this task students are to complete the lab report write up using all the information learnt in Task 1 and the results, data and methods used in Task 2.
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Teachers can assist students to complete this task as an in class task or can use it as a form of formative assessment of student knowledge obtained so far.
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A rubric can be found in the link provided for teachers to assess students on their understanding, it can be provided to students prior to allow students to understand what they are being assessed on or can be handed back following mark up.
Note: If you prefer to give students the activity as a handout then it can be downloaded using the link provided. If an abundance of microscopes and seaweed is not accessible then the teacher can conduct the experiment as a demonstration and students can observe.
The following link also shows examples of above satisfactory Year 10 work samples by ACARA of laboratory reports that the teacher can follow and/or show to students as a form of exemplar or example of the quality of work.