Abstract
This proposed activity involves a playful example of the application of the scientific method. It is based on the discovery of the identity of an object which is inside a closed box and known only by the lecturer. The box remains untouched during the activity, and students are encouraged to find out what is the object inside. The way to solve the problem is through sequential questions asked by students to the lecturer. Each student can ask one question or can attempt an answer. The lecturer will respond only YES or NO. Obviously the identification of the object that is inside the box is becoming more likely, since the number of responses (positive and negative) is increasing. As this activity allows a great interaction between the students and the lecturer, it is suggested that its implementation may take place on the first day of class with entering students, to enable an effective integration at the beginning of the academic activities. The correlation between this activity and the scientific method can be explained by the lecturer, citing as example the development of the atomic model, which evolved by the systematic application of scientific method.
Keywords
scientific method, experiments in science, closed box, scientific law, deductive process, interactivity, guessing game
Author
Edvaldo Sabadini
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química
Translated by
João C. de Andrade
Revised by
Carol H. Collins
