Building Investigation Skills in Grade 10 Science

As a 10th grade Integrated Science teacher one of my biggest responsibilities is to help prepare my students for the IB Diploma Program, and a huge part of that is fostering laboratory investigation skills. Throughout the seven units taught using NGSS standards in grade 10 Science I gradually build in more complex laboratory investigations, incorporating the use of technology and allowing students more freedom to design and conduct their own experiments.

Measuring the Production of Carbon Dioxide

Our very last lab in this course is an investigation into factors affecting reaction rates, including surface area, concentration, temperature &/or catalysts. This year I tried a new technique, allowing students to choose from four different chemical reactions, a list of factors that affect reaction rate and having them plan and conduct their own investigation with little direct instruction.

Measuring the Formation of a Precipitate

As an experienced IB Diploma Biology teacher I have a full understanding of the importance of investigation skills in lower grades. A significant component of any IB DP Science course is the Internal Assessment (or IA) which is worth 20% of students final score and the only non-exam portion of a score which summarizes two years of learning. The IA is an independent internal assessment and as such students are not permitted teacher assistance, beyond gathering materials and a single instance of feedback. For this reason it is key that students begin to learn how to plan and conduct their own investigations at a younger age. Vertical alignment in a secondary school program in content as well as skills is key to student success; especially in such a demanding program as the IB Diploma.

The result of this final investigation assignment was a lab full of students collecting data in different ways, using different tools and techniques and learning so much along the way. While many students made much more of mess and used more chemicals than they would have done if I had provided them with a specific procedure to follow the learning in this one lab was worth the mess and prep. I was very happy with the progress my students have made over the course of the 15 or so labs we did this year and I will definitely do this lab again, with some small tweaks of course. ;)

One Group's Investigation got a little messy! Too much catalyst means a very fast reaction!