Provide "acknowledged body of knowledge" related to the concept. Emphasize the most significant aspects of the concept in an organized, organic manner. Present information sequentially so students see continuity. Draw attention to important, discrete details; don't swamp students with myriad facts.
Teacher mini-lecture on scientific method.
Objective: To teach the traditional steps of the scientific method.
Activity: Using overhead, chalkboard, and examples, the teacher provides the framework of a scientific process for problem solving, emphasizing that science is a creative process in addition to a critical one. Particular attention is paid to controlled experiments and their impact on hypothesis formation and identification of the variable. More than memorizing a set of steps, time is taken to explore the difficulty in identifying a problem; examples such as Flemming and the discovery of penicillin are examined.
