1. Notes Science Tennessee SPI Objective:
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Science
Tennessee SPI Objective:
Design a simple experimental procedure with an identified control and appropriate variables.
Instructions for Students
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2) Press the right-arrow button on your keyboard to advance through this presentation.
3) If you need help, please communicate with your teacher.
Essential Learning
Students will examine the steps of the scientific method and
key components of experiments to include independent and
dependent variables, and controls.
Check for Understanding
Design and conduct an open-ended scientific investigation
to answer a question that includes a control and appropriate
variables.

2. (Variables and Controls)
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Notes
Science
Variables and Controls in Experiments
Used with the scientific method
Step 1: Make Observations
Step 2: Ask A Question
Step 3: Form A Hypothesis
Step 4: Test The Hypothesis
By doing experiments
Step 5: Analyze The Results
Step 6: Draw Conclusions
Step 7: Communicate results
Scientific Method
(In List Format)
Use independent variables when you test your hypothesis by doing experiments (see step 4 above)

3. (Variables and Controls)
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Notes
Science
Experiments
In an experiment you should conduct multiple trials
How many? More is better!
Experiments should include independent variables, dependent variables, constants, and controls.

4. (Variables and Controls)
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Notes
Science
Experiments (F.Y.I):
You test or measure a quantity and/or quality of something.
Example: Measuring Quantity:
Scientists could be testing a new cell phone battery to determine how long it will last when you are text messaging.
Example: Measuring Quality:
Scientists could be testing new IPod ear buds to determine if they are more comfortable or not.

5. Independent Variables
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Notes
Science
Independent Variables
In an experiment…
…you should only test for ONE key thing at a time
When you repeat the experiment…
…only change this ONE key thing
This one thing is called…
Also know as….the manipulated variable

6. (Variables and Controls) Also know as….the manipulated variable
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Notes
Science
Memory Trick
Independent variable begins with the letter “I”
So remember the letter “I.”
Imagine yourself doing the experiment., and ask yourself…
“What ONE thing will I change when repeating the experiment?”
That one thing will be…
Also know as….the manipulated variable

7. (Variables and Controls)
Video Review
SPI 0807.Inq.1
(Variables and Controls)
Science
Let's take a moment to watch and
discuss a video-song about this topic
Link: Variables Song by Mr. Edmonds

8. Graphing Independent Variables
y-axis
x-axis
The independent variable should be on the x-axis
Link (2 min 19 sec): Video-Graphing Ind and Dep Variable

9. What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
Example: You decide to do an experiment to determine the reason certain soft drinks are more popular that others. You suspect that the popularity of the drinks is connected with the amount of sugar found in them. You decide to use Dr. Pepper, Coke, Pepsi, and Barq's root beer. You first determine how much sugar each drink contains.
Then you get 6 students to do a blind taste test with all 4 drinks.
What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
In other words, what is the one thing being tested for or changed?
The independent variable is the type of soft drink

10. What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
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.
Corn plant 01
Corn plant 02
Corn plant 03
What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
In other words, what is the one thing being tested for or changed?
The independent variable is the distance from the sunlamp which is connected with the amount of sunlight.

11. Example: A student conducts an experiment with ten 8th grade
students. He uses 3 similar types of sour candy in a series of 4
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.
What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
In other words, what is the one thing being tested for or changed?
The independent variable is the type of sour candy

12. What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
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.
Liquid-washable
Glue Stick-washable
Glue Stick-nonwashable
What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
In other words, what is the one thing being tested for or changed?
The independent variable is the type of glue

13. What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
Example: 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)
What is the independent (manipulated) variable in this example?
In other words, what is the one thing being tested for or changed?
The independent variable is the color of ink

14. (Independent Variables)
SPI 0807.Inq.1A
(Independent Variables)
Questions
Science
Here is an example of a question you might see on a quiz or test.

15. (Independent Variables)
SPI 0807.Inq.1A
(Independent Variables)
Questions
Science
Here is an example of a question you might see on a quiz or test.

16. (Independent Variables)
SPI 0807.Inq.1A
(Independent Variables)
Questions
Science
Here is an example of a question you might see on a quiz or test.

17. (Independent Variables)
SPI 0807.Inq.1A
(Independent Variables)
Questions
Science
Here is an example of a question you might see on a quiz or test.

18. (Independent Variables)
SPI 0807.Inq.1A
(Independent Variables)
Questions
Science
Here is an example of a question you might see on a quiz or test.