Description

6 worksheets with a graphic organizer for helping students analyze data and use it to create a scientific explanation using NGSS Physical Science content. Each data set in this series has a written short introduction that should help with the interpretation of the data for students.

This set includes motion, magnetism, forces, and thermal energy. Supports lessons for NGSS Science and Engineering Practices of Analyzing and Interpreting Data, and Constructing Explanations.

Topics Covered:

“Testing Thermal Insulators” supports NGSS MS PS3-3
“Measuring Magnetic Strength” supports NGSS MS PS2-3 and NGSS MS PS2-5
“Gravity and Objects in Our Solar System Facts” supports NGSS MS PS2-4
“Echoes and Air Temperature” supports students in making mental images of graphs. This data set, when graphed, shows a very clear, linear trend. Many students when faced with a data table will not consider making it into a graph to better visualize the data trends. In this task, they are asked to analyze the data and evaluate which format, table or graph, is more helpful for finding trends in the data.
“Notes and Frequency” supports NGSS MS PS 4-1
“Waves at the Beach” Supports NGSS MS PS 4-1. This data set, when graphed, shows a linear trend between wave amplitude and the estimated energy level of the wave. This data set is also variable in that the estimated energy levels are not equally represented. Many students when faced with “messy data” think that something was done incorrectly rather than seeing it as a natural variation. In this task, they are asked to analyze the data and evaluate which format is more helpful for finding trends in the data.

Key Features:

NGSS DCI Connections: Each data set is accompanied by a short introduction to aid students in interpreting the data effectively.
Teacher Notes: Detailed guidance for educators on implementing the worksheets.
Variety of Topics: Covers areas like motion investigation, specific heat investigation, data analysis, thermal insulators investigation, and magnetic force investigation.

You can use these examples with your students even if they haven't done the labs, but you might need to give them some background about the topic or time to "read" the graph. however, this is like many state testing situations so it is good practice to have to do a "cold read" of a graph.

This resource also suggests further data analysis activities and skill boosters aligned with NGSS standards.

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