Classroom Activities: Making and Testing Predictions

These classroom activities are designed to complement the Making and Testing Predictions topic on BrainPOP Jr.

Wild Guess Chase

Remind students that strong predictions are ones that are supported by observations, prior knowledge, , and information they’ve gathered through research. Present a cup of water and a teaspoon of salt. Ask students what will happen when they add the salt to the water. Prompt students come up with “wild guesses”. Discuss why each guess is not a strong prediction. Then have students come up with strong predictions. What information supports their prediction?

Design an Experiment

Ask students the following question: Will an ice cube melt faster in a mug or in a paper cup? Have small groups make a prediction and then have them design an experiment to test their prediction. Ask the following:
• What materials do you need?
• How many times should you conduct the experiment?
• What will you use to make and record your observations?
• Where will you put the cups to observe the ice cube?

Prompt small groups to think about what might affect how fast the ice cube melts in both containers. Then have groups run their experiments and share what they learned with the class.

Play it Again!

Remind students that scientists conduct experiments several times to collect data. Set up a station that includes a toy car that rolls and a variety of surfaces on which to roll it, such as sandpaper, a fluffy towel, a smooth piece of wood, and corrugated cardboard. Have students predict which surface the car will travel the greatest distance. Then have groups do the experiment once. What were the results? Then have them repeat the experiment several times. Did their data change? If, yes, how so?