The Practice of Science TYPES OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS

Bellwork: What do you know about investigations? You are in the science Lab and your friend tells you to make sure when you measure to pay attention to the meniscus. Write 3 or 4 sentences describing what a meniscus is, why you have to pay attention, and describe what piece of laboratory equipment you are using and the units you will put after your measurements. t/f

EQ: What are types and parts of Scientific Investigations? Objective: I can describe the different kinds of scientific investigations because I can identify which kind is being used. SC.7.N.1.5

What are some types of scientific investigations? EXPERIMENTS OBSERVATIONS an organized procedure to study something under controlled conditions Include: FIELD STUDY IN THE LAB MODELS – information obtained by using the senses May lead to a scientific experiment.

What are Types of experiments: Field Study When do the birds migrate to and from our local park? A scientific study in which the subjects are observed in their natural habitat without changing, harming, or altering the setting or subjects.

2. Model A simplified representation How can the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun explain different kinds of eclipses? A simplified representation Useful for studying systems that are too big, too small, too complex too dangerous to study directly.

3. Controlled Experiment in the lab How does the amount of water affect how quickly a surface heats up? investigation in which all variables are kept the same except for one that is being changed- the independent or manipulated and one that is measured (dependent or responding variable).

Match each question to the best type of investigation. Investigation Question Type of Investigation 1) How does applying different forces to the Earth affect the type of landforms that are created? 2 How does the temperature of the water affect how tall the tomato plant grows? 3 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? 5. How does the time of month affect the appearance of the moon? Field Study Controlled Experiment Model observation

What are some parts of scientific investigations? Hypothesis – a testable idea or explanation that leads to an investigation Often in the form of an IF -> THEN, BECAUSE If a house is painted white, then its air conditioning bill will be lower because white absorbs less heat.

2. variables

Label the independent, dependent variables and the controlled variable.

What are the parts of a scientific investigation 3. Data The numbers and information gathered by experimentation that can be analyzed

Scientists may follow many paths to conduct an investigation Scientists may follow many paths to conduct an investigation. One path a scientist might follow:

Identify the independent and dependent variables for the following investigations:

Identify the independent and dependent variables in the following investigations:

Hw: complete sponge bob variables ws

exit You want to investigate how water temperature effects the rate of reproduction in the starfish population. In the experiment above, what is the independent variable? In the experiment above, what is the dependent variable? For the experiment above, what are some control variables? List the parts of the scientific method. If you want to study the types of birds around Winthrop, what kind of study would you do?

very controlled, cannot be controlled, weather may be a factor, type of scientific investigation, very sterile, scientist can change conditions, obtain info using senses

Bellwork:copy onto graphic organizer What are some characteristics of a good investigation? Repetition Replication same scientist - many trials (draw same girl, same cake) Other scientists perform the same investigation (draw different people, same cake)

Mythbusters: Are elephants afraid of Mice? http://www.snotr.com/video/5304/Mythbusters__Are_elephants_afraid_of_mice

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