Scientific Process Testable questions, hypothesis, the penny challenge

Feeling Sheepish? A salesman, a lawyer, and a scientist were traveling by train through the countryside of Scotland, when from the window of the train they saw a black sheep grazing on a hillside. "Aha,” proclaimed the salesman, "Obviously Scottish sheep are black.” “Oh no,” cautioned the lawyer. “If you claim that all sheep in Scotland are black, you could be sued. I would say only that some Scottish sheep are black.” "Actually…” explained the scientist, "all we really know is that there is at least one sheep in Scotland, and that one side of that sheep, is black.”

Warm Up: 9/13/12 Please copy these definitions in your science journal on Page 2. HYPOTHESIS- A POSSIBLE ANSWER TO A SCIENTIFIC QUESTION, OR EXPLANATION FOR A SET OF OBSERVATIONS. MANIPULATED VARIABLE- THE VARIABLE THAT IS CHANGED BY YOU ! RESPONDING VARIABLE- THE VARIABLE THAT IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE BECAUSE OF THE MANIPULATED VARIABLE. CONTROLLED VARIABLE- ALL OF THE VARIABLES THAT REMAIN THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIMENT.

Teaching Points Students will receive vocabulary words and will write definitions for each term as we learn them. Students will identify manipulated, responding, and controlled variables through a bouncing ball experience. Students will collect and analyze data, as well as experimental design.

HYPOTHESIS- A POSSIBLE ANSWER TO A SCIENTIFIC QUESTION, OR EXPLANATION FOR A SET OF OBSERVATIONS. THEORY- A WELL TESTED EXPLANATION FOR A WIDE RANGE OF OBSERVATIONS OR EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

An experiment is created… Wonder Testable Question Experimenta l Design Hypothesis

Testable Questions and Bouncing balls… A testable question is measurable, concise, and implicitly identifies the manipulated and responding variables. Make a testable question about bouncing balls: You might try using one of these formats…  Does changing ______affect__________?  How does changing __________ affect __________?  If I change __________ will it affect ___________?

Bouncing balls… Hypothesis An “ if, then, because” follows a pattern: If the _manipulated variable*_ is changed**, then the _responding variable*_ will change**, because of scientific concepts I know and understand. *Fill in witht the actual variables for each individual hypothesis **Tell how you expect the variable to change Practice 1. Make an “ if, then, because” hypothesis about bouncing balls. 2. Identify the manipulated and responding variables. 3. Identify 2 controlled variables.

Now, write this in your journal: 1. Write a testable question about a ball bouncing. 2. Write a hypothesis (if, then, because) about bouncing balls. 3. Identify the manipulated variable 4. Identify the responding variable 5. Identify at least two controlled variables

Penny challenge… Given a pipette, a penny, and this green solution- how many drops could you get to stay on a penny before the liquid began dripping off? Group Members: Recorder, Reporter, Resource Manager, Equity Officer

Homework: 9/13/11 Write two investigative questions, these are also called a testable questions, that can be tested using a penny, pipette, and solution (s).