SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY
• MRS. WAGNER
• 7th GRADE SCIENCE
MATERIALS
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Day One:
EggDemo
Scientific Inquiry Key Concepts/Worksheet.
Gummy Worms – Observations
Scientific Method in Action (beriberi)
Skittles
Identify Controls and Variables (Simpsons)
Experimental Design TableLab
Rasidia and fake Plant Demo (inference)
Memory Cards
Scientific Inquiry Tips
Scientific Method in Action
SpongeBob ‘s Experiments
Day Two
Mini-Lab – Alka Seltzer Lab
OBJECTIVES
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Day 1:
Students will be able to explain the process of scientific inquiry.
Students will demonstrate their understanding of scientific observations,
questions and hypotheses by answering questions and discussing the
article “An Enlightened Discovery”.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of controls, variable and
operational through classroom discussion and response to SpongeBob
handout.
Day 2:
Students will apply their knowledge of the scientific process by designing
and conducting an experiment to determine how salinity affects hatching
of brine shrimp.
Students will conduct the experiment and present their results over a
period of 4 days.
Students will be able to explain the difference between scientific theory
and scientific law.
Students will recognize the importance of scientific literacy.
• http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/a
nimations/content/scientificmethod.html
• http://glencoe.com/sec/science/physics/pp
p_09/animation/Chapter%201/Scientific%2
0Method.swf
WARM-UP
• Make an observation about the eggs in the
two beakers.
• Write down a scientific question.
• Develop a hypothesis to test your question.
……Remember…. a hypothesis
must be testable and it should be an
“If…..Then statement”.
SCIENTIFIC
METHOD
SIMPLIFIED
MAKE AN
OBSERVATION
COMMUNICATE
YOUR RESULTS
Share Your Ideas
and Findings
POSE A
QUESTION
DRAW
CONCLUSIONS
Analyze Data &
Summarize
Findings
TEST YOUR
HYPOTHESIS
Conduct the
Experiment
& Record Data
RESEACH
THE PROBLEM
Read, Research,
Get Advice
DEVELOP
A HYPOTHESIS
Make a Prediction
About What Will
Happen
DESIGN AN
EXPERIMENT
Plan How You
Will Test Your
Hypothesis
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY OR
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
• Process by which scientists study the
natural world and try to explain what
they have observed.
• The process of scientific inquiry begins with
a problem or a question that arises from an
observation.
MAKING OBSERVATIONS
• Qualitative observation is a description
of something that is made by using our
senses
• Quantitative observation is a measure of
something. There is almost always a
number associated with it.
http://static.howstuffw
orks.com/gif/scientificmethod-7.jpg
Qualitative or Quantitative
Observations
1. The leaves smells sweet. ____
2. The temperature of the room
increased by 8 degrees C. ____
3. The leaves are stiff. ____
4. The veins on the leaves are 3 mm
wide. ____
5. The smoothie has a rich berry
taste.____
STEP 1: ASK A QUESTION
• The scientific method starts when you ask
a question about an observation. How,
What, When, Who, Which, Why, or
Where?
• In order for the scientific method to answer
the question, it must be about something
that you can measure, preferably with a
number.
Science Buddies:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_scientific_method.shtml
STEP 1: ASK A
QUESTION
• Can these questions or statements be
answered using a scientific investigation?
– Do cats make better pets than dogs?
– Can you get warts from handling toads?
– People who don’t recycle should have to pay
fines.
– Do snakes travel in pairs?
– Does weather affect plants?
– Does the average daily temperature affect the
rate of growth of my house plants?
STEP 2: RESEARCH THE
PROBLEM
• Be a savvy scientist!! Don’t start from
scratch.
• Use the library and Internet research to
help you find the best way to (1) conduct
your research, (2) insure that you don't
repeat mistakes made by other scientists
or (3) “reinvent the wheel”.
Science Buddies:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_scientific_method.shtml
STEP 3: CONSTRUCT A
HYPOTHESIS:
A hypothesis is a possible answer to a
scientific question.
It is called an educated guess about how
things work!!!
For A Good Hypothesis…
• Make sure your hypothesis can be
tested through an investigation. It
cannot be an opinion!!
In other words, you need to be able to
measure both "what you do" and "what
will happen."
• Make sure your hypothesis helps you
answer your original question.
• Make it clear and simple.
A hypothesis should be an “If..
Then Statement” if possible
• "If _____[I do this] _____, then
__________[this]_____ will
happen.“
• Ultraviolet light may cause skin cancer
For A Good Hypothesis
• If UV light causes skin cancer, then
people with a high exposure to UV light
will have a higher frequency of skin cancer
STEP 3: HYPOTHESIS OR NOT
• 1. If I replace the batteries in my cell phone,
then it will work.
• 2. If I improve the conditions under which my
plants are growing then they will grow faster?
• 3. If I get lucky, then my plants will grow bigger.
• 4. My plants aren’t growing bigger because I
don’t water them enough.
•
(Turn #4 into a testable hypothesis!!)
STEP 4: DESIGN YOUR EXPERIMENT:
• Prepared a detailed description of materials
and procedures that you will need to test your
hypothesis
• Put together a data table to keep your data
organized.
• This is a BIG STEP!!! LETS TAKE A CLOSER
LOOK
VARIABLE AND CONTROLS
• Variables are factors that can be changed
in an experiment.
• Experiments are reliable only if variables
are controlled.
• An experiment in which only one variable
is changed at a time is called a
controlled experiment.
VARIABLES AND CONTROLS
• The variable that is purposely changed
and tested is called the manipulated OR
independent variable.
Consider the question: Will my
Venus Fly Trap grow faster at a
warmer temperature?
•
•Temperature is the manipulated
variable.
VARIABLES AND CONTROLS
The factor that may change in response to
the manipulated variable is called the
responding or dependent variable . So
this is the factor that is being measured.
How fast the
plants grows
is the
responding
variable.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qahtoAdl6Xc/TNF_tENXf5I
/AAAAAAAAAXY/Pk8PTSVK6lU/s1600/venusflytrap-5.jpg
VARIABLES AND CONTROLS
Controlled variables are variables that
scientists want to keep constant. REMEMBER
in a good experiment, we change only 1
variable at a time.
SO… If you are determining affect of
temperature on growth of Venus Fly Traps,
then…..
Experimental
Control
20oC
25oC, 27oC,
30oC
VENUS FLY TRAP CONTROLLED
VARIABLES
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Same kind of plant
Identical type and amount of soils
Same amount of water
Same amount of lighting
Same fertilization for both plants
VARIABLE AND CONTROLS
• Does heating a cup of water cause sugar to
dissolved faster?
WHAT ARE THE ….
• Independent or manipulated variable?
• Dependent or responding variable?
• Controlled variables?
STEP 5: CONDUCT AN
EXPERIMENT
• Scientists repeat their experiments several
times to make sure that the first results
weren't just an accident.
• Scientists may call these trials or
repetitions
http://www.biologycorner.com/wpcontent/uploads/2009/08/mad_scientist
-300x260.jpg
STEP 6:
ANALYZE RESULTS
Once your experiment is
complete, you collect your measurements and
analyze the data and either graph it or put it
into tables.
The facts and figures gathered during the
experiment are called data
STEP 7: DRAW CONCLUSIONS AND
COMMUNICATE RESULTS
• To complete your scientific
investigation you will communicate
your results.
• Professional scientists do this by
publishing their final report in a scientific
journal or by presenting their results at a
scientific meeting.
STEP 7:
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
Summarize what was learned from the experiment.
- Did the data support your hypothesis
- Did you collect enough data
- Where there any problems during the
experiment that affected your results.
- Do you have recommendations for
further testing that should be done?
Can you compare your results to the findings
of other scientists?
Stating the Problem
• What invisible trail does a
rattlesnake follow in tracking down
its bitten prey?
Gathering Information
• A rattlesnakes eyes are only sensitive to visible
light
• A pair of organs located under the eyes detect
invisible light in the form of heat
• A rattler’s tongue “smells” certain odors in the
air
• The sight or smell of an unbitten animal does
not trigger the rattler’s tracking action
Hypothesis
• After the snake wounds its victim,
the snake follows the smell of its
own venom to locate the animal
Experiment
• Drag a dead mouse that has been struck and
poisoned by a rattlesnake along a curved path
on the bottom of an empty cage
• Place the snake in the cage
• RESULT: The snake follows the exact trail that
has been laid out
• CONTROL: Drag an unbitten dead mouse along
the path
• RESULT: The snake seems disinterested
Recording and Analyzing Data
• Do the
experiment
many times
• Record the
data
Conclusion
• The scent of venom was
the only factor that could
cause a rattlesnake to
follow its bitten victim.
WHAT QUESTIONS MIGHT YOU
ASK ABOUT A PACKAGE OF
SKITTLES?
VARIABLE AND CONTROLS
• Experiments are reliable only if variables
are controlled. This means that only one
variable is changed at a time. (Variables
are factors that can be changed in an
experiment).
• This is called a controlled experiment.
VARIABLES AND CONTROLS
• The variable that is purposely changed
and tested is called the independent or
manipulated variable.
Consider the question: Will my
Venus Fly Trap grow faster at a
warmer temperature?
•
•Temperature is the manipulated
variable.
VARIABLES AND CONTROLS
The factor that may change in response to
the manipulated variable is called the
responding or dependent variable . So
this is the factor that is being measured.
How fast the
plants grows
is the
responding
variable.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qahtoAdl6Xc/TNF_tENXf5I
/AAAAAAAAAXY/Pk8PTSVK6lU/s1600/venusflytrap-5.jpg
VARIABLES AND CONTROLS
Controlled variables are variables that
scientists want to keep constant. REMEMBER
in a good experiment, we change only 1
variable at a time.
SO… If you are determining affect of
temperature on growth of Venus Fly Traps,
then…..
Experimental
Control
20oC
25oC, 27oC,
30oC
VENUS FLY TRAP CONTROLLED
VARIABLES
•
•
•
•
•
Same kind of plant
Identical type and amount of soils
Same amount of water
Same amount of lighting
Same fertilization for both plants
VARIABLE AND CONTROLS
• Does heating a cup of water cause sugar to
dissolved faster?
WHAT ARE THE ….
• Independent or manipulated variable?
• Dependent or responding variable?
• Controlled variables?
HYPOTHESIS
DESIGN EXPERIMENT
NO….
REVISE
HYPOTHESIS
CONDUCT EXPERMENT
SO ….THE
SCIENTIFIC
METHOD
CAN VARY
QUITE A BIT.
ANALYZE DATA
DOES EXPERIMENT
PROVE
HYPOTHESIS?
YES
COMMUNICATE RESULTS
IS DATA
INACCURATE?
IS EXPERIMENT
FLAWED?
MODIFY
EXPERIMENT
VARIABLES AND CONTROLS
• IS THE CLASSROOM NOISIER WHEN
TEACHER LEAVES THE ROOM?
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•
•
•
WHAT ARE THE ….
Independent (manipulated) variable?
Dependent (responding) variable?
Controlled variables?
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
• Operational Definition – defines how to
measure a particular variable. It may also
describe how a condition or object is to be
recognized. It tells you what to do or what
to observe.
OPERATIONAL DEFINTIONS
• To measure a person’s pulse, place your
index and middle fingers lightly on the
inside of the person’s wrist and find the
beating artery.
• Operational definition: The pulse is the
number of beats counted in 1 minute.
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
• You’re trying to determine what kinds of
balls roll the fastest.
• Operational Definition: The fastest ball is
the one that crosses the finish line before
all the other balls.
OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS
• To check your operational definition…..
– Ask yourself whether the definition will tell
another person exactly what they need to
observe or measure.
• An operational definition is a statement
• that describes how a particular variable is to be
measured, or how an object
• or condition is to be recognized. Operational
definitions tell you what to do or
• what to observe. (The word “operational” means
“describing what to do.”)
• Operational definitions need to be clear and
precise so that a reader knows exactly
• what to observe or measure.
Observation vs. Inference
Observation
Observation
Inference
It is important to distinguish between observations and inferences..
Observation: Something that can be made with only the five senses.
Inference: When you do something with what you observed, like draw a
conclusion or offer an explanation or then you are making an inference.
The inference may or may not be a correct one. Correctness is not what
makes the difference between observation and inference.
http://classroomclipart.com/clipart-view/Science/Animated_Clipart/science_burner_gif.htm
http://classroomclipart.com/clipart/
Science/Animated_Clipart.htm
http://classroomclipart.com/clipart/Sc
e/Animated_Clipart.htm
WATCH THESE ANIMATIONS
• http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animati
ons/content/scientificmethod.html
• http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/
science/scientific-inquiry/scientific-methods.htm
• http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/scienti
fic_method_plant_exp.html
• http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/s
cience/virtual_labs/E16/E16.html
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=30817&CategoryID=1570
Warm-up
• An irregularly shaped stone was lowered
into a graduated cylinder that held a
volume of 20 ml of water. The height of
the water rose to 30 ml.
• If the mass of the stone was 22 grams,
what was its density?
Warm-Up
• A cube measure 3 cm on each side.
• What is the density of the cube if it
has a mass of 25 grams.
• Will the cube float in water? (Hint,, you
found the density of water in your
experiment on Friday.
Warm-up
• Change the following question to a
testable hypothesis.
• “Does reading the directions for
an assignment help to get a
better score?”
WARM-UP
• Write a testable hypothesis for the
following question. Identify the control
variables for an experiment to test your
hypothesis
• What is the effect of cow manure on
the height of sunflowers?
TICKET OUT THE DOOR
Number your index card from 1-4. Indicate whether
the variable that is underlined is the manipulated or
responding variable
1. How does the amount of fertilizer used affect the
number of potatoes produced?
2. Does the shape of a magnet affect how strong it is?
3. How will the number of foxes affect the rabbit
population in an area?
4. Does the amount of water a lemon tree gets affect the
size of
the lemons?
.
TICKET OUT THE DOOR
MATCH EACH STATEMENT BELOW WITH 1 OF THE
FOLLOWING:
Q – Question/ Problem
H – Hypothesis (educated guess before experiment)
E – Experiment and observations
C – Conclusion (based on experimentation)
OSPREY STUDY
a. ____ My estimate is that the wing span of adult
ospreys is about 3 meters wide.
b. ____ Capture 10 adult ospreys. Measure the wing span
of each one. Calculate the average wing span.
c. ____ How wide is an osprey's wing span?
d. ____ An osprey's wing span is 5.3 meters wide on
average