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ME405: Wet-Dry Bulb Hygrometers: Measuring Relative Humidity and Apparent Temperature
Administration Procedures
Grades 5-8 Performance Task
Contributed by: Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)

General Teacher Instructions:

Students will be working in groups of 4 for the experiment/activity part of this exercise. The following suggestions are offered to facilitate administration of the exercise.

  • Students need to be ready to work as soon as the period begins.
  • Group assignments should be made in advance.
  • The materials should be set out at each lab station, if possible.
  • A central supply area, if needed, should be easily accessible.
  • The supply area should have any supplies from the kit that were prepared by the teacher as well as all of the school-supplied materials necessary for the experiment.
  • All the supplies should be clearly labeled.

Materials in Kits:

  • cardboard hygrometer stand, Parts A and B
  • one 5" piece of hollow shoestring (wick)
  • 2 small o-rings (for holding wick on bulb)
  • 2 thermometers with Fahrenheit scales

Materials Supplied by School or Students:

  • ice
  • 50 ml of iced water
  • water at room temperature
  • narrow masking tape or Scotch tape
  • two 100 ml beakers or equivalent paper, Styrofoam, or plastic cups
  • 1 pair of sharp pointed scissors
  • paper towels
  • stopwatch or clock

National Science Education Standards:

8 A SI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry: Grades 5-8
1.4 Develop descriptions, explanations, predictions, and models using evidence. Students should base their explanation on what they observed, and as they develop cognitive skills, they should be able to differentiate explanation from description — providing causes for effects and establishing relationships based on evidence and logical argument. This standards requires a subject knowledge base so the students can effectively conduct investigations, because developing explanations establishes connections between the content of science and the contexts within which students develop new knowledge.

1.8 Use mathematics in all aspects of scientific inquiry. Mathematics is essential to asking and answering questions about the natural world. Mathematics can be used to ask questions; to gather, organize, and present data; and to structure convincing explanations.

8 D ESS 1: Structure of the earth system: Grades 5-8
1.9 Clouds, formed by the condensation of water vapor, affect weather and climate.

1.10 Global patterns of atmospheric movement influence local weather. Oceans have a major effect on climate, because water in the oceans holds a large amount of heat.

(Use the "hot" link on the PALS home page to check the full text of related National Science Education Standards, if desired.)

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:

AL1: Understand patterns, relations and functions:
Grades 6-8 f. represent, analyze, and generalize a variety of patterns with tables, graphs, words, and, when possible, symbolic rules

MEAS1: Understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement :
Grades 6-8 k. understand relationships among units and convert from one unit to another within the same system

PS2: Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts:
Grades 6-8

REP1: Select, apply, and translate among mathematical representations to solve problems:
Grades 6-8

Special Teacher Instruction:

  • One batch of water that is used in this event should be at room temperature. Therefore, 24 hours prior to the event, fill a one gallon jug with tap water, and store the jug of water in the room where the event will take place.

  • Make sure that all parts that are listed on the teacher's and students' materials list are available in the proper quantities.

  • Just prior to the event, prepare a half gallon of ice water. In addition, have another gallon of ice on hand for use during the event.

Safety:

  • Be careful.
  • Teachers and students should always exercise appropriate safety precautions and utilize appropriate laboratory safety procedures and equipment when working on science performance tasks.

 


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