1. DO NOW: Parts of an Investigation Date: September 4, 2012
Ms. Smith
Mrs. Malone
Ms. Foarde
DO NOW:
TEKS: 6.2(B,C,D,E) Make observations, ask well-defined questions, formulate testable hypotheses, collect and record data, construct tables and graphs, and analyze data
Date: September 4, 2012
Get out your Do Now sheet and composition book
Write down this week’s TEKS
Use the chart on page 017 in the Sciencesaurus book on your table to answer today’s question. Q?:How can you “Gather Data” in a science investigation?

2. Announcements and Reminders
Did you turn in your signed safety contract?
You will not be allowed to participate in the lab on block day unless your safety contract has been turned in

3. DO NOW: Parts of an Investigation Date: September 4-5, 2013
Ms. Smith
Mrs. Malone
Ms. Foarde
DO NOW:
Date: September 4-5, 2013
TEKS: 6.2(B,C,D,E) Make observations, ask well-defined questions, formulate testable hypotheses, collect and record data, construct tables and graphs, and analyze data
Get out your Do Now sheet and composition book
Read page 017 “Designing Your Own Investigation” in Sciencesaurus
Q?: What are the 8 steps or methods of a scientific investigation?

4. Announcements and Reminders
Homework: Use the guide on page 4 of your comp book to write a conclusion for the M&M lab

5. Well-Defined Questions
Ask about objects, organisms, and events in the natural world.
Can be answered through investigations that involve experiments, observations, or surveys.
Are answered by collecting and analyzing evidence that is measurable.
Relate to scientific ideas rather than personal preference or moral values.
Do not relate to the supernatural or to non-measurable phenomena.

6. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??
How does a paper airplane fly?
Not well-defined.

7. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??
Does the shape of the wing affect how far a paper airplane will fly?
Well-defined!

8. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??
Is rock music better than hip-hop music?
Not well-defined.

9. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??
Does rock music make more money than hip-hop music?
Well-defined!

10. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??
What temperature of water will dissolve M&Ms faster?
Well-defined!

11. Is it a WELL-DEFINED QUESTION??
Which M&M tastes better: red or yellow?
Not well-defined.

12. Create a hypothesis for the following scientific question.
A hypothesis is an educated guess about how
things work.
Create a hypothesis for the following scientific question.
Question: Does vinegar cause M&M colors to dissolve faster than water?

13. Hypothesis Write your hypothesis behind the “Hypothesis” tab
Question:
“Do some M&M colors dissolve faster in water than others?”
Write your hypothesis behind the “Hypothesis” tab
in your foldable.
I predict…

14. Hypothesis
IF the M&M has a darker color, THEN it will dissolve faster. (Brown, Red, Blue)
IF the M&M has a lighter color, THEN it will dissolve faster. (Yellow, Orange, Green)

15. Materials Paper towels Materials: White paper Different colored M&Ms
Behind the “Materials” tab in your foldable, list all of the materials that you will be using in the M&M Investigation lab.
Materials:
White paper
Different colored M&Ms
Water
Pipette
Petri dish
Beaker
Marker
Timer
Paper towels

16. Variables These changing quantities are called VARIABLES.
An experiment has 3 kinds of variables:
independent (manipulated), dependent (responding) and controlled (constants)

17. Independent Variable Example:
Variable that is purposely changed or manipulated
a fair test has only one independent variable.
Example:
Does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth?
The amount of fertilizer is the independent variable
because the scientist has control over how much
fertilizer is used in the experiment.

18. Independent Variable
Suppose that you wonder whether you can run a marathon faster when
you eat pasta the night before or when you drink coffee the morning of the race.
Your hunch is that loading up on pasta will give you the energy to run faster
the next day. The independent variable is the consumption of pasta, and the dependent variable is how fast you run the race.
Now, if you eat several plates of spaghetti the night before you race, but then get up the next morning and drink two cups of coffee before you head to the start line, your experiment is useless.
Why is it useless? By drinking the coffee, you introduce a second independent variable, so you will not know whether the faster race time is due to the pasta or the coffee.

19. in your M&M investigation?
Independent Variable
What is the
independent variable
in your M&M investigation?

20. M&M Color Independent Variable Independent Variable:
Why is M&M color the independent variable?

21. Dependent Variable what is measured in the experiment Example:
Does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth?

22. in your M&M investigation?
Dependent Variable
What is the
dependent variable
in your M&M investigation?

23. Answer: How fast the M&M colors dissolve.
Dependent Variable
Answer: How fast the M&M colors dissolve.

24. Constants
The variables that are not changed are called controlled variables. (constants)
Example:
Does the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth?
Independent variable: amount of fertilizer
Dependent variable: plant growth
Controlled variables: same type of plant, same pot size, same amount of water, same amount of sunlight

25. Why will we use a bar graph in our M&M investigation?
Graphs
A graph is a chart or drawing that shows the relationship between changing things
Can you name some common graph types?
Graphs must include a title and labels on the x and y axis.
Why will we use a bar graph in our M&M investigation?

26. Bar Graph Example TITLE Y-Axis Dependent Variable
X-Axis Independent Variable

27. DRY MIX
D = dependent variable R = responding variable Y = graph information on the Y-axis (vertical, up and down) M = manipulated variable  I  = independent variable X  = graph information on the X-axis (horizontal, side to side)

28. DO NOW: Parts of an Investigation Date: September 6, 2013
Ms. Smith
Mrs. Malone
Ms. Foarde
DO NOW:
Date: September 6, 2013
TEKS: 6.2(B,C,D,E) Make observations, ask well-defined questions, formulate testable hypotheses, collect and record data, construct tables and graphs, and analyze data
Get out your Do Now sheet and composition book
Read p. 017 “Designing your own investigation” in Sciencesaurus
Q?: How do you design an experiment?

29. Announcements and Reminders
Homework: Table Talk – “What is matter?” Ask your family this weekend when you sit down to eat together

30. Login Information Example: Username: S(student id #)
Password: First letter of your last name(birthdate)s
Example:
Username: S144822
Password: M042399s

31. Types of Investigations Cornell Notes
Click on Handouts
Click Types of Investigations and Graphs.ppt
Click “Open”
Press F5 to make it full screen
Fill out your notes page using the presentation to guide you