Scholar: _______________________________________
Class: _________________________________________
Date: __________________________________
Ms. Adelfio
Review Sheet: Scientific Method and Controlled Experiments
Directions: Match each definition/description to its appropriate vocabulary word by writing the letter on the correct
line.
1. ______ An educated guess or prediction about a testable question.
A. Observation
2. ______ The variable that the scientist is able to change in the experiment.
B. Inference
3. ______ The standard group in a controlled experiment by which your results are
compared.
C. Testable question
4. ______ Variables that are kept the same in an experiment.
5. ______ The variable that scientists observe or measure in an experiment.
6. ______ The first step of the scientific method.
7. ______ A conclusion based on something you observe and what you already know.
8. ______ Data/facts collected using the 5 senses.
9. ______ A group that gets the experimental treatment in a controlled experiment.
10. ______ The last step of the scientific method; must always be based on data.
D. Conclusion
E. Dependent variable
F. Constants (controls)
G. Hypothesis
H. Control group
I. Experimental group
J. Independent
variable
Base your answer to questions 11 – 14 on the passage below and on your knowledge of science.
A student develops the following testable question: Does the amount of water used when watering a plant affect the
amount of leaves the plant grows?
11. Name the independent variable in this experiment: _____________________________________________________
12. Name the dependent variable in this experiment: _____________________________________________________
13. Identify TWO variables that should be held constant for this experiment:
a. ___________________________________________________ [1]
b. ___________________________________________________ [1]
14. Explain why these variables need to be held constant (controlled).
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Base your answer to questions 15 – 19 on the passage below and on your knowledge of science.
Donnie adds blue food coloring to a cups of water at different temperatures. He notices that the time needed for the
blue food coloring to dissolve (mix completely until the water is completely blue) in each cup is different. He thinks this
has something to do with the temperature of the water. Donnie wants to design an experiment to see if he is correct.
15. Write a TESTABLE QUESTION based on the student’s observations.
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16. Write a HYPOTHESIS based on the testable question you wrote above.
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17. Name the independent variable in this experiment: _____________________________________________________
18. Name the dependent variable in this experiment: _____________________________________________________
After completing her experiment, the student records the following data:
Temperature of the Water
Time for Blue Dye to Dissolve in the Water
5° Celsius
9 seconds
15° Celsius
7 seconds
25° Celsius
5 seconds
35° Celsius
3 seconds
18. Based on the student’s data, write a conclusion in which you
 Restate your original hypothesis [1]
 State whether you accept or reject your hypothesis [1]
 Discuss specific data that led you to either accept or reject your hypothesis [1]
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