Lesson goal: Students can describe how research is done, judge whether a claim is backed by evidence and report findings with passive reporting structures (it is thought that…, X is believed to…).
Add the lesson to get your own copies of the word set and exercises; the lesson opens in the builder, where you can adjust the steps and teach it.
Lesson plan
- 1
Warm-up
Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.
- Which scientific discovery has changed your life the most?
- Did you enjoy science lessons at school?
- Do you trust health advice that you read online?
- 2
New words
Meet the words and practise them in games.
FlashcardsMaze chasehypothesis · experiment · evidence · conduct · findings · breakthrough · laboratory · data · theory · prove · sample · peer review · discovery · invention · side effect
All words in the set - 3
Exercises
The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.
- Fill the gap
The team ___ the experiment three times to make sure the results were right.
Answer: conducted - Fill the gap
Before it is published, an article must pass ___ by other experts in the field.
Answer: peer review - Fill the gap
A ___ of only twenty people is too small to prove anything.
Answer: sample - Fill the gap
It ___ (believe) that the first antibiotic was discovered by accident.
Answer: is believed - Fill the gap
Coffee ___ (think / be) good for your memory, but the evidence is weak.
Answer: is thought to be - Multiple choice
Which sentence means the same as 'People say that the drug has side effects'?
The drug is said to have side effects.The drug says to have side effects.It is said the drug to have side effects.The drug is saying to have side effects. - Multiple choice
An idea that scientists test with an experiment is ...
a hypothesisa findingan inventiona laboratory - True / false
Read: "A popular headline claimed that eating chocolate helps you lose weight. In fact, the study behind it had a sample of just fifteen people and was never peer-reviewed. The researchers later admitted they had designed it to show how easily bad science gets into the news." The chocolate study was based on strong evidence.
Answer: False - True / false
Read the text again. The researchers wanted to show a problem with the way the media reports science.
Answer: True - Discussion question
Think of a health or science claim you have heard recently. Was there enough evidence for it? How could you check?
Sample answer: I recently read that drinking cold water burns lots of calories. It is said to speed up your metabolism, but the article didn't mention any research. To check, I'd look for studies with a large sample that have been through peer review, not just blog posts.
- Fill the gap
- 4
Speaking
The student answers using the new words.
- Should governments spend more money on scientific research? Which areas?
- Is it acceptable to test new medicines on animals?
- Which invention could you not live without?
- Why do some people not trust scientists?
- What breakthrough would you most like to see in your lifetime?
- 5
Review
A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.
Quiz