I.
Title: Using the Scientific Method to look at male versus female reaction times/ "false"advertising
Recommended Grade Level: 9th
Subjects: (Integrated Science)
Author(s): Gary Osborn
School: Amery High School

II.
Objective:
Students will be familiar with Scientific Method so that they can use it to investigate good science, bad science, advertising claims

Related State or National Science Education Standards
Student will be able to apply scientific method to every day occurrences

III.
Equipment or Materials Needed
    6-8 meter sticks, video on Scientific Method, various advertisements, Study Guide on Scientific Method.

IV.
Procedure
    Introduction: Have written on Board, "ATV, Hair coloring for attention getting factor.
    Ask the question, Your ATV doesn't start. How could you find out why? Students will give several ideas why this is true. You wanted to dye you hair black and it turned out red. Why did this happen? Students will give several ideas why this is true. Ask how we could prove that their idea was true? Point out that they were using parts of the Scientific Method.
    1. Hold up a "questionable" advertising for a mystery cure, or
    miraculous product and ask kids if they would buy it. If not why not?
    How could we test it? Allow them to break into groups to work on it for
    5 minutes of so. Have one be a recording secretary to write down their
    procedure.
    2. After time is up, get a general procedure from a combination of all
    groups. Compare this to steps of a scientific method.
Provide information:
    1. Hand out study guide on Scientific Method and write down the steps in
    their note book.
    2. Show video on Scientific method and have them take a quiz on the info
    in the video and then grade it.
   
Problem: Who has a quicker reaction time; male or female?
    1. Using the yardstick, students will develop an experiment of reaction
    time by dropping the stick through members of the group's fingers to see
    who can catch the stick the fastest. (least distance traveled before
    grabbing it) Information will be recorded
    2. Four to a group, having both boys and girls in the group so they can
    "monitor" each other.
    3. Have them list any variables that could take place during this experiment
    4. Several trials should be held.
    5. Final tabulation to take place and attempt to draw conclusions,
    reasons for results.

Assignment for next day: Hand out or have students write down Flow Sheet
    for evaluating claims.
    1. Bring in an advertising that seems a little fishy, (example- fish
    lure guaranteed to catch fish.
    2, Develop a test or experiment to evaluate the truthfulness of the
    advertisement


V.
Assessment
1. The lab they did on reaction time will be graded on its completeness, containing the components of the scientific method.
2. They also will the advertisement they brought from home, (I may have extra here for them to use if they forgot) submitted to the flow sheet and or the Flow Sheet for analysis. This will be graded for completeness.