Name:_______________________ Date:_________ Per:_____
Thinking as a scientist thinks(LAB):
START: Read aloud: Listen to the following scenario:
Scenario: Late One Night_
You are a scientist, and you were working
Late last night. You drew a diagram in different
colors of ink, and it looked similar to the one to
the right. While you were writing and drawing in your
journal, you nodded off. When you awoke, you found
there was a termite in the middle of the diagram.
You watched the termite’s response to the ink on the page,
and it made you wonder. Next, you called in your friend,
who is also a scientist. Together you made a prediction
about what the termite was doing. Questions about the
termite and its behavior led you to start experimenting and making
careful observations to see if your prediction was correct.
Next: Get your materials and follow your teacher’s instructions.
1. Write three observations as you watch your termite in your diagram:
1._____________________________________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________________________________
2. Create a question that can be tested (hypothesis) Example: If (This was done or changed), then what would
be the result? . Think about this…What do you think is affecting the termite’s behavior?
My Hypothesis:_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________.
**Do you have the tools or materials to test your hypothesis? If your answer is yes, then TEST IT OUT! If you
do not have the materials that you need, or if your hypothesis cannot be tested at this moment, go back and
rethink as well as re-write your hypothesis so that you CAN test it out.
Predict: Make a prediction before you test your hypothesis. (In other words, what do you think will happen after
you test your hypothesis?)
My prediction is:______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.
TEST and PROCEDURE: In your own words, write down what you will be testing and how you will be doing it.
You can do this using bullet points, steps, a paragraph, diagrams, pictures, etc.
*
OBSERVATIONS: Write down anything that you see about your termite’s behavior, and how your hypothesis
compares with what you observed the first time around.
*
RESULTS: Consider the following questions: What changed? What is the same? How is the termite reacting to
your test? Did your results support your hypothesis and prediction? Note: If the termite did not behave the way
in which you expected, DO NOT be disappointed! There is simply something else that may explain its
behavior, which we will discuss later. 
*
ANALYSIS: Briefly write down a possible explanation for the behavior of the termite. Use your initial
observations, your hypothesis, prediction, and other evidence that can support your explanation.
*
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER: complete these in your LAB journal.
REFLECTION: Answer the following questions:
1. Describe the purpose of the experiment.
2. What is the independent variable? How do you know?
3. What is the dependent variable? How do you know?
4. List the controlled variables, and explain why they are termed “controlled”.
5. What does this lab show you about how science is done?
6. If two scientists run the same experiment and have similar observations will they develop the same explanations?
Explain your answer.