Catalyst (5 minutes) *Get out your catalyst sheet from Monday and Tuesday and write the following:  Your catalyst today is a little bit different. Below, you will find three statements. Your catalyst today is to write each statement three times on your catalyst sheet. (1) The Control is used to Compare. (x3) (2) I change the Independent Variable. (x3) (3) The Dependent variable Depends on what I change. (x3)

Conducting an Experiment to identify controls and variables:  Lab safety: (1) Do not touch anything in the center of your table. (2) Be careful and respectful at all times. (3) Never eat or drink anything in science lab. (4) One person may handle one thing at a time. (5) If you spill anything or something happens today, let Ms. McGuirk know as soon as possible by raising your hand. (6) We are conducting today’s experiment as a class, therefore you need to keep pace with the class, stay focused and do not get behind or move ahead.

Conducting an Experiment to identify controls and variables:  Group behavior expectations: (1) We are conducting today’s experiment as a class, therefore you need to keep pace with the class, stay focused and do not get behind or move ahead. (2) When a certain scholar # is assigned to do a certain task, ONLY that scholar may complete that task. (3) If you are not the scholar doing a certain step, you should not be touching anything – you should be watching the experiment being conducted at your table CAREFULLY.

Scholar #1  Please pour milk into your bowl.  You should only pour for about 5 seconds to get enough milk into your bowl.  Watch and follow Ms. McGuirk’s example.

If you have five scholars in your group: Scholars #2, #3, #4, & #5  One scholar take one color of food coloring (it does not matter who gets what color, take them respectfully and maturely.  Look at the image to the right  MAKE SURE you do not put any drops in the middle of the bowl of milk!  The scholar with the yellow food coloring, place one drop into one corner of the milk bowl.  The scholar with the green food coloring, place one drop into another corner of the milk bowl.  The scholar with the blue food coloring, place one drop into another corner of the milk bowl.  The scholar with the red food coloring, place one drop into the last corner of the bowl.

Scholar #1  Take one cotton swab (Q- tip) and hold it above the bowl of milk.  Place your swab gently directly into the center of your bowl of milk.  Watch Ms. McGuirk model this step before you do it.  Everyone else at the table should observe what happens while the scholar does this!

Scholar #2  Take the cotton swab (Q- tip) from Scholar #1 carefully.  Turn the other end around.  Dip the dry end into the cup of soap completely.  Watch Ms. McGuirk as she models this step.

Scholar #3  Take the soap-soaked cotton swab (Q-tip) from scholar #2 carefully.  Place your swab gently directly into the center of your bowl of milk.  Watch Ms. McGuirk model this step before you do it.  Everyone else at the table should observe what happens while the scholar does this! 

Scholar #4  Now that we’ve watched the effect of our experiment, give your bowl a gentle shake and watch your milk tie-dye!

Scholar #5 OR #1  When Ms. McGuirk calls your table, scholar #5 will do this if you have 5 scholars in your group, scholar #1 will do this if you have 4 scholars in your group.  Get up and carefully walk back to the sink with your bowl and used cotton swab.  Slowly dump the milk down the drain, and put the emptied bowl & used cotton swab into the black trash can.  Return to your seat carefully and quietly.

Clean up procedures at your table  Scholar #2: make sure that the cotton swab bag is closed and placed back in your bin.  Scholar #3: make sure the food coloring bottles are closed and they are back in their bag, then back in the bin.  Scholar #4: make sure the soap cup gets placed back in the bin.  Scholar #5/#1: make sure everything is placed back in the center (plate, extra bowls, paper towels)  AFTER CLEAN UP, NO ONE MAY TOUCH THE MATERIALS IN THE CENTER OF THE TABLE.

Studying for tomorrow’s quiz Weekly Quiz 2: Controls & Variables