Tooth Decay Investigation

Grade level: THIRD

Activity:

To Investigate tooth decay by

observing an apple under different

conditions

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY

For the development of four skills: Planning, Record and Organise Data, Equipment and

Questions, the activity is to investigate the process of tooth decay, the students will conduct

investigations on apples. The whole class is divided into groups of five. They discuss what

happens to the apples in different circumstances and what it means in the context of tooth

decay. For example, puncture holes in the apples and discuss how it reflects in the case of tooth

decay. They work on it for couple of days and come back together to share and compare

results. The students then contrast the results
They will observe the hole to see how the apple decays.

Are there any questions we might ask and try to answer in our investigation?

{The following are the sort of questions the children should ask, make them try and predict and

answer their questions themselves.} - success criteria

● we poked more than one hole in an apple?

● we made some holes deep and some holes shallow?

● we made some holes larger than others?

● we poked one or more holes in the apple, then put it in a plastic bag and sealed it?

● we poked one or more holes in the apple, then put it in the refrigerator?

● we poked one or more holes in the apple, then put it in a sunny place?

● we poked one or more holes in the apple, then put it in a dark, warm place?

Remind students that the environment of the mouth is wet, warm, and dark. What if the apple

were in an environment that is similar to that of the mouth? Would the results be the same or

different? How could you find out?

This activity develops a basic science skill, as we first learn what it is that we are experimenting

and then by questioning, predicting and answering, we are making sense of what exactly we
Help the students prepare by explaining the steps they will need to do to complete the

a. Students will plan and conduct the experiment in teams of five

b. Each team will choose a question they think they can answer by investigating.

For example, What will happen to the apple if we poke five holes in it and put it

in the closet?

c. Now have the teams share their questions with the class. Encourage some teams

to think of a new question if too many teams want to investigate the same

Allowing some teams to investigate the same question is also a good idea. As

scientists also usually take sets of observations for a particular experiment in

order to average out the errors made in each set of the observations. Each

team’s result will be unique.

2. As a class, determine where to place the control apple (the apple that has not been

changed). Make sure students know that they should observe the control apple as well

as their experimental apple each time they make observations.

3. Distribute Apple Record Page, one to each student. Discuss the record page and make

sure students know how to complete each section. Allow students time to complete the

first three questions and to record their beginning