Mystery Bag

Mystery Bag Activity

• What comes to mind when you look at the bag?
• What questions do you have about the bag?

Each person then has 5 seconds to handle the bag and gather information

Guesses:

• rattles
• soft
• squishy
• squeaks
• ball
• dog or baby toy?

Categorize:

• formulated a statement: what you think is in the bag (hypothesis)
• hypothesis- tentative explanation
• create a method to obtain information
• How do we figure it out
• two possibilities: the hypothesis is correct, the hypothesis is incorrect
• restate the hypothesis
• will not prove but support
• have to test several times to prove
• the more test results, the more results
• hypothesis- not a guess, a tentative explanation for the problem/question based on some type of observation
• Have to support hypothesis!!

Actually in the bag:

• rattle
• rock
• softball

Why we need to use inquiry in science:

• No direct answers in science because science is always evolving. 
• Principle concept: scientific knowledge is fundamentally uncertain
• Science is uncertain because it is a human activity
• Science explanations seem less certain when they are based on indirect information
• Scientific uncertainty can be reduced through collaboration
• the scientific argument is based on justified evidence

Why this activity?

• Stimulates creativity
• Develops creative thinking
• Helps students understand the scientific method
• Gives students a better understanding of a hypothesis