Seventh Grade
How to Conduct an Experiment
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Four Types of Projects
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Controlled experiment
Fieldwork
Secondary Research
Design/Invention
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Controlled Experiment
Students must identify both the dependent and the
independent variable.
For the dependent variable, you can think of it as the data
you are collecting, and the independent variable is the
variable that causes the change.
You must remember to list your constraints, and add specific
measurements you are using, if it applies to your experiment.
You can only change one variable in your experiment in order
for your data to be reliable.
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Examples of a Controlled Experiment
How does age affect the blood
pressure?
How does hearing music affect the
number of ping-pong balls a person can
throw in a basket in one minute?
How does the angle of a rocket affect
the distance it traveled?
 Red = Independent Variable
 Purple = Dependent Variable
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Fieldwork
 Students must go to a specific location(s) and gather data.
 Students must use appropriate equipment in order to
gather their data. This will help you to see how changes to
the independent variable affect the dependent variable.
 Students must make a list of all the necessary equipment
needed.
 Students must decide how often they are measuring, or
collecting data (twice a day, daily, weekly, etc.).
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Examples of a Field Study
How does temperature affect the
amount of rainfall for the month of
November?
How does body temperature
determine a person’s mood?
How does altitude affect barometric
pressure?
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Secondary Research
These are for experiments where students do not
have the time, resources, or appropriate equipment
to complete their experiment.
Students use research from a reliable source in
order to try to find answers to their problem.
Students will analyze scientists’ and researchers’ data;
however they must cite the sources of their data.
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Examples of Secondary Research
Do seasons affect the incidence of
asthma attacks?
Does smoking while pregnant
cause children to have asthma?
How does the cloud cover affect
UV radiation?
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Design/Invention
Think of something for which there is a need.
Determine your target audience (women,
men, children, babies, etc.)
Create a prototype, and test the prototype by
gathering data.
If the design exists already, then think of ways
to make it better.
For both designing a product or creating an
invention, you must be able to gather data in
order to see if your design or invention
worked. If it didn’t work then you must try to
find solutions as to why it didn’t work or ways
of making it better and trying again.
Web Cup
Solar-Powered Flashlight
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Examples of Design/Invention
Investigations
 How can we invent a bike that will
purify water?
How can we create a dog sweater that
measures the body temperature of a dog?
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QUESTIONS
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