Name _____________________________________________________ Date _____________ Period _______
What Makes a Good Hypothesis?
Directions: Study the pictures and read the accompanying statements carefully. With your group discuss and
make a list of the similarities and differences among the four statements. Be prepared to share your group’s
answers with the rest of the class. Keep in mind the pictures are there to help you understand the reasoning
behind the statement; you should be looking for differences and similarities amongst the statements themselves
(listed below).




If the sun is higher in the sky, then my shadow will be shorter.
If increased seismic activity is detected near Mt. Rainier, then an eruption will occur.
If a factory spills hazardous chemicals into the waters of Puget Sound, then the fish population will
decline.
If two parents with brown eyes have a child, then that child will have brown eyes.
Differences
What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis?
1.
2.
3.
4.
**5.
Similarities
Name ________________________________________________________________ Date _______________ Period _____________
Does this statement
predict or explain?
If the sun is higher in the
sky, then my shadow
will be shorter.
If increased seismic
activity is detected near
Mt. Rainier, then an
eruption will occur.
If a factory spills
hazardous chemicals into
the waters of Puget
Sound, then the fish
population will decline.
If two parents with brown
eyes have a child, then
that child will have brown
eyes.
What observations/
inferences is it based
on? (Remember the
picture)
How could you test this
statement?
Can it be disproved or
scientifically supported
by evidence?
Hypotheses Continued…
Finish the following hypotheses, add your own “because” or reason to complete the statement.
1. If the sun is higher in the sky, then my shadow will be shorter because
2. If increased seismic activity is detected near Mt. Rainier, then an eruption will occur because
3. If a factory spills hazardous chemicals into the waters of Puget Sound, then the fish population will
decline because
4. If two parents with brown eyes have a child, then that child will also have brown eyes because
Investigative Questions:
Now that we have reviewed what makes a good hypothesis, let’s think about what makes a good investigative
question. Often scientists develop investigations after they have first made a hypothesis. There are two different
formats that you can follow to create a good investigative question:
OR

How do/does _____________________ affect ___________________?

What effect do/does ____________________ have on ___________________?
Go back the hypotheses above and write an investigative question for each of the hypotheses in the space below
using the correct format.
1.
2.
3.
4. Challenge!