Introductory Unit – Review
Name:
Each question below comes directly from the work we have been doing in class since September. You are
allowed to use your notes while you complete the review. This is an individual activity.
1. Fill in the missing term for each of the following statements using the word list. Note: There are
more words than you need and words can be used more than once.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
An attempt to explain or interpret an observation. ______________________________
The temperature is 8 °C. ______________________________
Made using the five senses. ______________________________
Something that can change in an experiment. ______________________________
The thing that you measure in your experiment. ______________________________
Made using various measurements. ______________________________
The line-up in the cafeteria is long. ______________________________
What you purposely change in an experiment. ______________________________
What you keep the same in an experiment. ______________________________
Word List: observation, quantitative, qualitative, variable, independent variable, dependent variable,
scientific question, prediction, cause, effect, inference, controlled variable, scientific inquiry
2. “What effect does the amount of Vitamin A a rat receives have on the weight of the rat?
a. What type of question is this? ______________________________
b. What is the independent variable? ______________________________
c. What is the dependent variable? ______________________________
d. List two controlled variables for this experiment.
____________________________________________________________
3. List the five senses. ____________________________________________________________
4. Give one qualitative observation about the outdoors for each sense.
Sense
Qualitative Observation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5. List three quantitative observations about yourself. ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
6. What are three instruments you could use to make quantitative observations?
_______________________________________________________________________________
7. You enter your house to find the back door open and a half eaten peanut butter sandwich on the
kitchen counter. Nobody is home.
What inference can you make? What do you think happened based on your observations?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
8. What do you have to “control” variables in an experiment?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
9. Underline the variables in the following statements. Put an “I” next to the independent variable
and a “D” next to the dependent variable.
a. The time it takes to run a kilometre depends on the amount of exercise a person gets.
b. The higher the temperature of water, the faster an egg will cook.
c. An investigation was done to see if keeping the lights on for different amounts of time
each day affected the number of eggs chickens laid.
10. Re-write the following statement so that it is a scientific question (one that can be tested).
“The number of berries on a blueberry bush depends on how much water it receives.”
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
11. Give ONE inference for each of the following observations.
a. My car won’t start.
b. The classroom is quiet.
c. She missed the bus.
Introductory Unit – Review
Answers
Each question below comes directly from the work we have been doing in class since September. You are
allowed to use your notes while you complete the review. This is an individual activity.
1. Fill in the missing term for each of the following statements using the word list. Note: There are
more words than you need and words can be used more than once.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
An attempt to explain or interpret an observation. Inference
The temperature is 8 °C. Quantitative observation
Made using the five senses. Qualitative observation
Something that can change in an experiment. Variable
The thing that you measure in your experiment. Dependent variable / effect
Made using various measurements. Quantitative observation
The line-up in the cafeteria is long. Qualitative observation
What you purposely change in an experiment. Independent variable / cause
What you keep the same in an experiment. Controlled variable
Word List: observation, quantitative, qualitative, variable, independent variable, dependent variable,
scientific question, prediction, cause, effect, inference, controlled variable, scientific inquiry
2. “What effect does the amount of Vitamin A a rat receives have on the weight of the rat?
a. What type of question is this? Scientific question
b. What is the independent variable? Amount of Vitamin A
c. What is the dependent variable? Weight of the rat
d. List two controlled variables for this experiment. Food, water, location, type of rat,
exercise amount, age of rat
3. List the five senses. See, hear, smell, taste, touch
4. Give one qualitative observation about the outdoors for each sense.
Sense
1. See
2. Hear
3. Smell
4. Taste
5. Touch
Qualitative Observation
Trees, bushes, grass, other plants, buildings,
vehicles, sky, clouds, animals, insects etc…
Animals, vehicles, sirens, bells, insects etc…
Plants, exhaust, food etc…
Plants, wind, water, food etc…
Plants, animals, buildings, ground etc…
5. List three quantitative observations about yourself. Height, weight, hair length etc…
6. What are three instruments you could use to make quantitative observations? Ruler, scale,
measuring cups, timer, clock, measuring spoons etc…
7. You enter your house to find the back door open and a half eaten peanut butter sandwich on the
kitchen counter. Nobody is home.
What inference can you make? What do you think happened based on your observations?
 Someone forgot to close the door when s/he left; the sandwich was not important.
 Something happened in the back yard and s/he left the door open when s/he left to deal
with it, only eating half of the sandwich.
 There was a kidnapping, and the sandwich was left behind.
 Someone had an allergic reaction to the sandwich and had to be taken to the hospital – the
door was left open in the process.
8. What do you have to “control” variables in an experiment? You control variable so that you know
which independent variable caused the dependent variable to change.
9. Underline the variables in the following statements. Put an “I” next to the independent variable
and a “D” next to the dependent variable.
a. The time it takes to run a kilometre (D) depends on the amount of exercise (I) a person
gets.
b. The higher the temperature (I) of water, the faster an egg will cook (D).
c. An investigation was done to see if keeping the lights on for different amounts of time (I)
each day affected the number of eggs chickens laid (D).
10. Re-write the following statement so that it is a scientific question (one that can be tested).
“The number of berries on a blueberry bush depends on how much water it receives.”
What effect does the amount of water have on how many blueberries will be produced?
11. Give ONE inference for each of the following observations.
a. My car won’t start.
 There is no gas.
 It is broken.
b. The classroom is quiet.
 It is empty.
 There is a test.
 Everyone is working quietly.
c. She missed the bus.
 She woke up late.
 The bus cam early