Make and Observation and Ask a Question
Anything you directly see, smell, hear, touch or taste
Observation
An educated prediction based on observations and research that can be testable through experimentation
The variable that is changed by the scientist. Also called the manipulated variable.
Independent variable
What do observations become when they are recorded and organized?
Data
A human problem that could have been prevented during the experiment.
Mistakes
Observation or Inference?
There is snow on the ground so school will most likely be cancelled.
Inference
What is the format for a testable hypothesis?
If ____________, then _____________ (because _________).
The variable that is changed or observed. Also called the responding variable.
Dependent Variable
What type of graph shows the relationship between two variables?
Scatter Plot
Something difficult to control that may affect the outcome of the experiment.
Errors
What is the format for a scientific question?
How does ________ affect _______?
Write a hypothesis for the following scientific questions. Hint: Make sure you use the correct format!
How does listening to music during test taking affect students' test scores?
If students listen to music while testing, then their test scores will increases.
OR
If students do not listen to music while testing then their test scores will decrease.
The group that receives special treatment and shows us what changed.
What type of graph shows parts of a whole (%)?
Pie Chart
Mistake or Error?
Suzie recorded her toy car went 106 cm instead of 10.6 cm
Mistake
Write a testable scientific question to test the following idea.
While Nate is working in his garden, he notices that his house casts a shadow on one side of the garden. He observes the plants on that side are shorter than the plants on the light side. He wants to test how sunlight and plant growth are related.
How does sunlight affect plant growth?
Write a hypothesis for the following scientific questions. Hint: Make sure you use the correct format!
How does the amount of air in a basketball affect how high it bounces?
If the basketball has more air, then it will bounce higher.
OR
If the basketball has less air, then it will not bounce as high.
Identify the independent and dependent variable in the following experiment:
Mrs. Smith reads that eating peppermints helps with focus and memory. To test if this is true, she gives 1st and 2nd hour peppermints during their test and does not give any to 3rd and 4th hour. She then compares the classes' test scores to see who did better.
Independent: Eating peppermints or not.
Dependent: Test scores/grades
Mrs. King records how many millimeters the classroom plant grows everyday for a month. What type of graph would best display her data?
Mistake or Error?
When averaging his data, Daniel did not divide the total by how many trials he did.
Mistake
Write a testable scientific question to test the following idea.
While Mary is making Kool-aid, notices the sugar dissolves quicker in the room temperature water than iced water. She wants to test how these two are related.
How does water temperature affect how quickly sugar dissolves in water?
What does it mean if your hypothesis is disproven?
Your experiment did not support what you predicted would happen, but still gave you valuable information.
What is one constant variable needed for the following experiment?
Sarah wants to know if salt makes ice cubes dissolve faster. She puts salt on one ice cube and she doesn't put anything on the other. She then records how long it takes for each to melt.
Possible Constant Variables: same size ice cube, same type of container, same room/temperature, same starting time
What does DRY MIX stand for?
Dependent, Responding, Y-axis
Manipulated, Independent, X-axis
Mistake or Error?
The yard stick had slightly different measurements than the meter stick.
Error