4. Ask about objects, organisms, and events in the natural world.

5. Relate to scientific ideas rather than personal preferences or moral values.

6. Can be answered through investigations that involve experiments, observations, or surveys.

7. Are answered by collecting and analyzing evidence that is measurable.

8. Are always about changing one variable to see what the effect is on another variable.

9. Testable Questions have two parts: An independent variable An independent variable A dependent variable A dependent variable

10. Let’s compare the two types of variables… Independent Variable Independent Variable Changed by you ON PURPOSE Changed by you ON PURPOSE There can be ONLY ONE There can be ONLY ONE Dependent Variable Dependent Variable What is measured in the experiment What is measured in the experiment changes because of what you changed on purpose changes because of what you changed on purpose

11. Testable Question Formats Does changing _______ affect _______? Does changing _______ affect _______? How does changing _____ affect _____? How does changing _____ affect _____? If I change ______ will it affect ______? If I change ______ will it affect ______? independent variable dependent variable independent variable independent variable dependent variable dependent variable

12. Non-Testable vs Testable Questions How do plants grow? How do plants grow? How does changing the amount of water affect the growth of tomato plants? How does changing the type of soil affect the growth of petunias? How does changing the amount of sunlight affect the growth of daffodils?

13. Non-Testable vs Testable Questions How does something sink or float? How does something sink or float? How does changing the type of fruit affect the ability of it to float in water?

14. Non-Testable vs Testable Questions How do rockets work? How do rockets work? How does changing the shape of the rocket’s fins affect it ability to fly?

15. Non-Testable vs Testable Questions How does the sun heat up the water? How does the sun heat up the water? How does changing the type of water affect its ability to absorb thermal energy from the sun?

17. Practice Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve? Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve? Identify the INDEPENDENT variable _________________________ Identify the DEPENDENT variable _________________________

18. Let’s practice writing a few… Does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause the atmosphere to warm? Ask yourself: 1. Which variable can I change ON PURPOSE (IV)? (IV)? 2. What is going to change because of what I changed (DV)? changed (DV)? Write the testable question: Does changing the amount of carbon dioxide affect atmospheric temperatures?

19. Is achievement in school higher when students are tested frequently? Ask yourself: 1. Which variable can I change ON PURPOSE (IV)? 2. What is going to change because of what I changed (DV)? Write the testable question: How does frequency of testing affect student achievement?

20. Do crickets chirp faster in warmer temperatures or cooler temperatures? Ask yourself: 1. Which variable can I change ON PURPOSE (IV)? 2. What is going to change because of what I changed (DV)? Write the testable question: How does the change in temperature affect the speed of a cricket’s chirp?