Lesson 3:
Scientific Investigations:
Types of Scientific
Investigations
INQB: Design Investigations
Content Standard: Different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific
investigations.
Performance Expectation: Plan and conduct a scientific investigation (e.g., field study,
systematic observation, controlled experiment, model, or simulation) that is appropriate
for the question being asked.
Do Now:
What do you know about
investigations?
Field Study
When do the birds migrate to and from
our local park?
Definition:
• A scientific study of freeliving plants or animals in
which the subjects are
observed in their natural
habitat without changing,
harming, or altering the
setting or subjects.
Systematic Observation
How do the weather patterns change in
the Pacific Ocean throughout the year?
Definition:
• The skill of recognizing and
noting some fact or event in
the natural world.
• Observation includes the
act of measuring.
Controlled Experiment
How does the amount of water affect
how quickly a surface heats up?
Definition:
• A lab investigation in which
the values of all variables
are kept the same except
for one that is changed from
experiment to experiment
(manipulated variable) and
one that is measured
(responding variable).
Model
How can the relative positions of the
Earth, Moon, and Sun explain different
kinds of eclipses?
Definition:
• A simplified representation
of a system.
• Models are useful for
studying systems that are
too big, too small, or too
dangerous to study directly.
Simulation
How do you fly a spaceship in different
situations before you really go to space?
Definition:
• The imitation of some real
thing, situation, or process.
• Simulating something
involves representing
certain key characteristics
or behaviors of a system.
Check for Understanding (left side):
Match each question to
the best type of investigation.
Investigation Question
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
How does the type of surface affect
how you operate a remotely
operated vehicle on Mars?
How does applying different forces
to the Earth affect the type of
landforms that are created?
How does the temperature of the
water affect how tall the tomato
plant grows?
How does the air pressure change
with different types of weather?
How does the distance from the
lake affect the types of plants and
animals we see?
Type of Investigation
a) Field Study
b) Systematic Observation
c) Controlled Experiment
d) Model
e) Simulation
Check for Understanding (left side):
Match each question to
the best type of investigation: Answers
Investigation Question
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
How does the type of surface affect
how you operate a remotely
operated vehicle on Mars?
How does applying different forces
to the Earth affect the type of
landforms that are created?
How does the temperature of the
water affect how tall the tomato
plant grows?
How does the time of the month
affect the appearance of the moon?
How does the distance from the
lake affect the types of plants and
animals we see?
Type of Investigation
e) Simulation
d) Model
c) Controlled Experiment
d) Systematic Observation
a) Field Study
Leveled Questions?
(On the right page, put leveled
questions to the side of the notes.)
Summary:
How do I pick the right type of
scientific investigation?
(Use the Step-Up-To-Writing method.
Put the summary at the bottom of
the right page.)
HW (left side):
> Write a scientific question:
How does _____ affect ______?
> Identify what type of
investigation would best answer
the question, and explain why.
> Then design the investigation.
(You can use one of the tide pool
questions if you want.)