Preparing for the
6th Grade Science MOSL
** DO NOT WRITE IN PACKET **
A step by step guide to exceeding
expectations on the assessment
Evaluating Others Work
• In any experiment their can be limitations that
would decrease the reliability of a conclusion.
• What does the term limitation mean?
• A Reliable experiment can be repeated and produce
the same results many times.
• How can changing more than one variable become
a limitation in an experimental design (experiment)
Constructing/ Evaluating Explanations
Advanced (4)
Proficient (3)
Developing (2)
Emerging (1)
Explains the
limitations of
others work to
support a given
conclusion using
data AND
evidence from
their experiment
design.
Explains the
limitations of
others work to
support a given
conclusion using
data OR evidence
from their
experiment
design.
Partially explains
the limitations of
others work to
support a given
conclusion using
some relevant
evidence from
the data OR
experiment
design.
States limitations
of others work to
support a given
conclusion that
may not
reference data or
experimental
design.
Possible limitations in Sample:
• Malcolm changed his bike tire during the experiment.
• Timekeeping is not clearly defined, he could be using a
timer and Chris said it can be hard to be very accurate
with a stopwatch.
• Time of day was not specified, Energy level can be
impacted during the race
• The test conditions for not oiling the gears. We don’t
know if Malcolm rode his bike for the same amount of
time in between each of these time periods.
• How hard Malcolm pedaled would affect his speed and
could be difficult to control during all trials.
Writing an Answer to # 1
• Based on the results, Malcolm found out that
the fastest average speed came from…
• A limitation that could have affected his
results is….
• In the text it says that friction can …
Question # 1
• Although Malcolm’s experiment produced
data, Chris has doubts about Malcolm’s
conclusion.
• Explain the limitations of Malcolm’s
conclusion by using the data and evidence
from Malcolm’s Experimental Design.
What rating should this receive?
A. Malcolm’s conclusion is limited because be
didn’t try many different hills during his
experiment.
B. One of the limitations of Malcolm’s
experiment is that his tire popped and he
had to replace it with a new one halfway
through his experiment
What rating should this receive?
C. Although Malcolm tried to control for many
variables in his experiment by using the same
bike, making sure his tires were inflated to the
same pressure, and he tried to ride his bike the
same way every time, during his experiment his
tired popped and he needed to replace it. Since
we don’t know if it was the same kind of tire,
the surface of it could have been different
impacting the amount of friction.
What rating should this receive?
D. Although Malcolm’s data suggests that when
you don’t oil your bike for 30 days it goes faster,
Malcolm did not take into account having to
change his bike tire during the experiment. It was
stated in the story that friction can affect the
speed of the bike, and a more smooth surface
will produce less fiction. If the surface of the tire
changed when he replaced it, that could produce
more or less friction and would impact his data
results in addition to the impact of oil on the
chain.
Scoring Rationale
• In order to receive a level 4 score response students
must:
- Acknowledge that the data provided would suggest the
conclusion is correct BUT also points out the error in
design which would make the experiment non-relaible.
- The student should also explain how this confounding
variable (a variable that is changed in addition to the
independent variable) might affect the conclusion and
the data collection.
Asking Questions
• All Testable Questions Should:
• 1. Include the independent and dependant variables
• 2. Be written in the form of a question (End with a ?
mark)
• 3. Be related to the topic or experiment (Current
Phenomena) you are reading/testing.
• 4. Normally start with HOW. Never start a testable
question with WHY (Why is an opinion, not testable)
Formulates a Testable Question
Advanced (4)
Proficient (3)
Developing (2)
Emerging (1)
Student clearly
defines the
variables and the
relationship to
investigate in
his/her testable
question
Writes a testable
question to
investigate the
relationship
between two
variables
Writes a question
to investigate
with partial
articulation of the
variables
Question is not
testable.
(Only includes
independent OR
dependent
variable, not
both)
If you write a
sentence and
NOT a question
you would
receive a score of
0.
Question # 2
• To help Malcolm figure out what makes his
bike go fast, write a testable question for an
experiment that would identify specific
variables under investigation.
• Be sure your new testable question is
connected to the current phenomena under
investigation from the original experiment.
What rating should this receive?
A. How fast will it take to race down a bike path?
B. Does oiling my chain more frequently make my bike go
faster on average?
C. How does oiling my bike chain more often affect my bike's
average speed?
D. Do new tires make a bike go faster?
E. Does oiling my bike chain with greater frequency cause it
to go a further distance in the same amount of time?
Formulating a Hypothesis
• All hypotheses need to show the relationship
between the independent variable and the
dependent variable.
• Also you need EVIDENCE from the text to support
WHY this relationship would happen.
• IF…Then…Because
Formulating a Hypothesis
Advanced (4)
Proficient (3)
Developing (2)
Emerging (1)
Articulates
(describes) a
relevant
hypothesis in
detail explaining
how the
independent and
dependent
variables are
related using
information from
the text provided.
Articulates/
Describes a
relevant
hypothesis that
includes a
rationale,
identifying there
is a relationship
between two
variables,.
Articulates/
Describes a
relevant
hypothesis,
rational is
unclear.
Articulates/
Describes a
relevant
hypothesis,
rational is
MISSING.
Question # 3
• In order to help Malcolm strengthen his
experimental design, he must create a
hypothesis as well. State a hypothesis for your
testable question. Explain the rationale behind
your hypothesis using any information
presented in this document.
What rating should this receive?
A. If I oil my bike chain, then the bike will go faster. The text
says
B. If I oil my bike chain more often, then my bike will achieve
faster speeds because in the text it says “greased cogs have
very little friction”
C. If I oil my bike chain more often, then my bike will reach
faster speeds because I reduced the amount of friction on
the cogs. In the text it says “greased cogs have very little
friction” and “friction is a force that slows objects down”
Based on this information if you can lower the amount of
friction, the bike will go faster not slower.
Planning Investigation
• In every experiment, there are step by step
instructions to follow. Either these steps are
given to you, or you need to write them down
on your own.
• Procedures are important for all experiments
because they allow you to repeat the
experiment to see if your results will be
reliable.
Designs Procedures
Advanced (4)
Proficient (3)
Developing (2)
Emerging (1)
Procedure tests the
hypothesis and
accounts for the
interaction of
dependent,
independent and
controlled variables
Procedure tests the
hypothesis and
accounts for the
interaction of
dependent,
independent and at
least one controlled
variables
Procedure tests the
hypothesis but does
not completely
account for the
interaction of
dependent,
independent and
controlled variables
Procedure is not
relevant to the
stated question,
does not address
hypothesis or
contains major
omissions and
errors.
Procedure has a
logical sequence
and details that
would produce
similar results if
repeated.
Unclear sequence
or lack of details
that would produce
different results if
repeated.
Procedure has a
logical sequence
and details that
would produce
similar results if
repeated. Includes
multiple trials to
increase reliability.
Question # 4
• Design an experiment that improves upon
Malcolm’s design. You may use a similar
investigation. Be sure your procedure:
• Tests your Hypothesis
• Accounts for the interaction of relevant
variables
• Follows a logical sequence
Logical Sequence
A procedure should be a VERY DETAILED description
of steps to follow in an experiment.
Each step should lead into the next one so that it
makes sense.
Lets think about making a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich. You can’t start with eating the sandwich
without buying the ingredients first!
Support Your Claim
• When creating a conclusion to an experiment you must
review your procedure and results.
Things to keep in mind:
• Was your hypothesis supported by the data you
collected?
• Was your hypothesis NOT supported by the data you
collected? What limitations could have occurred during
the experiment?
• What were your independent, dependent and constants
in the experiment?
Supports Claim
Advanced (4)
Proficient (3)
Developing (2)
Emerging (1)
Explains why
students own
procedure will
yield more
reliable results.
Explains why
students own
procedure will
yield more
reliable results.
Partially explains
why students
own procedure
will yield more
reliable results.
Incorrectly
explains why the
students own
procedure is
different from the
original.
Explains how and
why the variables
are isolated and
controlled.
States how the
variables are
isolated and
controlled.
States how the
variables are
isolated OR
controlled.
Does not clearly
describe why this
procedure is
better.
Question # 5
• Reread Malcolm’s experimental design and
compare it to the one you just created in
Question # 4. Be sure to:
• Explain why your procedure is more likely to
produce reliable data
• Explain how and why the variables are
isolated and controlled.
How can I get a level 4 score?
1. State and explain how your procedure will yield
more reliable results (What are you going to make
sure to KEEP CONSTANT during the experiment)
2. Explain how the limitation in the original
experiment to could make the original data
unreliable
3. Describe why it is important to only change one
thing (the independent variable) during an
experiment.