Bellwork
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
8/27/2015
Fill in the Blank with a Vocabulary word from this week.
1. ____________Variable is the variable you choose to test or
change.
2. _____________is the variable that is held constant in an
experiment.
3. ____________ Variable is the variable being measured or
observed in an experiment.
4. What is the area, if the length is 3m and the width is 6m?
5. What is the volume, if the length is 2km, width is 4km, and
the height is 3km?
Agenda
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SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
8/27/2015
Review Bellwork (definitions)
Emphasize Today’s Objective
Finish Notes on Dependent Variable
Watch videos and brainpop on variables
Do Study Guide on Dependent variables
Do worksheet on Measurement
WRITE THIS IN YOUR AGENDA!
Homework:
Study for Friday Voc quiz
Worksheet and study guide for dependent variables
Notes
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Science
Tennessee SPI Objective:
Design a simple experimental
procedure with an identified
Instructions
control
and
appropriate
1) First
click
on "View" variables.
from the top-menu bar.
2) Then click on "Slide
Show"Learning
from the drop-down menu.
Essential
3) Thenwill
use examine
the right-arrow
button
on scientific
your keyboard
to and
Students
the steps
of the
method
through
presentation.
keyadvance
components
ofthis
experiments
to include independent and
dependent variables, and controls.
Essential Question(s)
What are the steps of the scientific method?
What are experiments, and how do I design them to include
independent/dependent variables, and controls?
Notes
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Science
What Is A Dependent Variable?

Often called the "responding variable" because it is the
response to the factor that was previously introduced

These are the results that you observe after you introduced
the independent/manipulated variable

In other words, anything that "changes on its own" while the
experimenter is observing it will be a…
Also called "Responding Variable"
Example: A scientist is conducting an experiment to test how
sunlight affects plant growth.
 She places one corn plant 1 meter away from a sunlamp.
 She places one corn plant 2 meters away from a sunlamp.
 She places one corn plant 3 meters away from a sunlamp.
plant 01 is the distance
Corn plant from
02
Corn plant 03
The independentCorn
variable
the sunlamp
What is a dependent variable in this example?
HINT: What is the response to the distance from the sunlamp?
A dependent variable is the plant growth
Example: A student conducts an experiment with ten 8th grade
students. He uses 3 similar types of sour candy in a series of four
trials. (Sour Patch Kids, Sour Skittles, and Warheads) He gives
1 piece of candy to each student and records their facial expressions
to estimate how sour each candy is.
The independent variable is the type of sour candy
What is a dependent variable in this example?
HINT: What is the response to the different types of candy?
A dependent variable is their reaction (facial expressions)
Example: A student conducts an experiment to determine
which type of glue works best for attaching two pieces of regular
writing paper together.
She places 2g of glue on each sheet of paper, and then uses a spring scale
to measure how much force it takes to pull the sheets apart.
She uses 3 types of Elmer’s glue in a series of experiments.
Glue Stick-nonwashable
Liquid-washable
Glue Stick-washable
The independent variable is the type of glue
What is a dependent variable in this example?
HINT: What is the result from using the different types of glues?
Dependent variable-how much force to pull apart the paper
Example 05: A student conducts an experiment to determine which
ink color in ballpoint pens will last the longest before running out.
She copies text from her science book. She copies the same text over and over.
She writes at the same speed. The room temperature remains the same. She
writes on the same kind of paper each time.
She uses 3 ink colors in 3 ballpoint pens in a series of experiments.
(1) Black ink pen,
(2) Blue ink pen,
(3) Red ink pen)
The independent variable is the color of the ink
What is a dependent variable in this example?
HINT: What is a result from using the different color inks?
A dependent variable is how long the ink lasts.