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Exploring Scientific Procedures

People forget what you say, and they forget what you do People forget what you say, and they forget what you do. But they will never forget how you make them feel.

2+2 = 5 Rule 2 +2 5 George Washington was our second president. This sentence ain’t got not good grammar.

What you change in the experiment DEFINITION #1 Independent Variable What you change in the experiment (to make life easier for your students, you may want this “change” to be measurable - i.e. weight, mass, volume, height, etc..)

The result from the change you made DEFINITION #2 Dependent Variable The result from the change you made (this variable, also known as data, “depends” on your independent variable and, again, should be measurable)

The INDEPENDENT VARIABLE and the DEPENDENT VARIABLE are close relatives and can be found throughout the following steps of scientific inquiry: QUESTIONS HYPOTHESIS DATA TABLES and GRAPHS

All scientific experiments begin with simple questions…. It is this sense of inquiry that ESP begins its journey…. …with a QUESTION

Questions How does the _________________ (Independent Variable)   affect the ____________________? (Dependent Variable)

Hypothesis If the ____ is ___________ , (IV) (increased/decreased) then the ____ will ___________. (DV) (increase/decrease)

Data Table

Data Table Dependent Variable Independent Variable Average Trial One Trial Two Trial Three Average

Title Dependent Variable Independent Variable

GRAPH TITLES The effect of the ____________________ (Independent Variable)   on the __________________? (Dependent Variable)

in the QUESTIONS HYPOTHESIS DATA TABLES and Students must see the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE and the DEPENDENT VARIABLE in the QUESTIONS HYPOTHESIS DATA TABLES and GRAPHS

Question: Let’s try an example... How does the length we pull backwards on the toy car affect the distance it will travel?

Can you identify the IV and DV? How does the length we pull backwards on the toy car affect the distance it will travel? Can you identify the IV and DV? IV = length we pull backwards on the toy car DV = distance it will travel LOOK FOR THESE PHRASES THROUGHOUT THE EXAMPLE

Hypothesis  If the length we pull backwards on the toy car is increased, then the distance it will travel will decrease.

Length pulled backwards on the toy car Distance it will travel (DV) Data Table Length pulled backwards on the toy car (IV) Distance it will travel (DV) Trial One Trial Two Trial Three Average 5cm 7cm 9cm

Distance it will travel Length we pull backwards on the toy car The effect of the length we pull backwards on the toy car on the distance it will travel Distance it will travel (DV) Length we pull backwards on the toy car (IV)

can be seen throughout the entire experiment The phrase “length we pull backwards on the toy car” and “distance it will travel” can be seen throughout the entire experiment

Procedure List a 3-step procedure that would make this a valid (fair) investigation. What am I going to change? (IV) How will I change it? (Include all of the experimental variables from the data chart) What data will I collect? (DV)

Conclusion Restate the hypothesis Write a possible conclusion statement for this investigation. Restate the hypothesis State whether your data supports or does not support the hypothesis Include all of the data (IV and DV) from the graph

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