1. The key to inquiry investigations
How we do science…
The key to inquiry investigations

2. Asking the right questions related to scientific inquiry
Questioning…
Asking the right questions related to scientific inquiry

3. Questioning Skills
Scientific questions need to be answered by observations or evidence
If questions cannot be answered by gathering evidence, it’s not science
They should identify a relationship or a factor you can investigate

4. Hints to help!
If your questions are general, break them down into questions that can be investigated one at a time
A good question is structured as follows:
‘‘What is the effect of increasing/decreasing ____________ on ______________.”

5. Example
What is the effect of increasing the amount of water on how tall a plant will grow?

6. Writing A Proper Hypothesis
Using the “If / Then” Method

7. Parts of the Statement Independent Variable:
The condition being studied. It is controlled by the experimenter.
ex. Water
Dependent Variable:
The condition affected by the independent variable. It can’t be controlled by the experimenter.
ex. Plant Growth
Control Variable:
Other factors that could affect or be affected by the experiment. Try to eliminate or reduce these variables.
Control:
The condition that is represented in a ‘normal’ situation (what happens with no manipulation).

8. What kinds of variables?
Most common are:
Time, temperature, length, width, height, mass, volume, distance, number, and kinds of substances being used in the experiment.

9. Steps to Writing the Hypothesis
Start your sentence with the word “If”
Write down the independent variable
Connect statement with is increased/decreased/stays the same
Write down “then” followed by the dependent variable will increase/decrease/stay the same.
Write a rationale for your hypothesis.

10. Example of the format of a hypothesis
Ex. If section:
If the amount of water is increased
Ex. Then section:
then the height of the plant will increase.
Final “If / then” statement:
If the amount of water is increased then the height of the plant will increase.
Rationale:
Plants need water to grow so
increasing water will increase growth.

11. Try out your worksheet!