This document provides an overview of key concepts in the scientific process including hypothesis, observations, data, independent and dependent variables, and inferences. It gives examples of writing hypotheses and identifying variables. Students are guided through an example experiment involving the effect of light color on plant growth. Key terms are defined and students are prompted to practice identifying variables and writing hypotheses for sample experiments.

1. SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS PP. 4-8 ALSO P. 646-647 REVIEW THESE TERMS HYPOTHESIS OBSERVATIONS DATA INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (0R MANIPULATED) DEPENDENT VARIABLE (OR RESPONDING) CONSTANT INFERENCES

2. HYPOTHESIS AN EDUCATED GUESS OR THE PREDICTION THAT IS BASED ON YOUR OBSERVATION CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS A SPECIAL PREDICTION THAT FORECASTS HOW THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE WILL AFFECT THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE IF, THEN, STATEMENT

3. YOU TRY IT! WRITE A HYPOTHESIS FOR THE FOLLOWING EXPERIMENT: JOHN WANTS TO KNOW IF THE SIZE OF THE PAPER AIRPLANE’S WINGS WILL CHANGE THE DISTANCE THAT THE PLANE WILL FLY.

4. First, identify the independent variable. What is the independent variable: The size of the paper airplane’s wings Now identify the dependent variable: The distance the plane will fly is the dependent variable.

5. What is your hypothesis? Write your hypothesis. If the size of the paper airplane’s wings increase, then the distance the plane flies will increase.

6. WHAT DO I ALREADY KNOW? HAVE STUDENTS COMPLETE THE WARM UP SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY PART 1 PUT THE STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN PROPER ORDER. PART 2 MATCH THE FOLLOWING TERMS IN THE CORRECT ORDER.

7. MATCH Reread pp 4-8 HYPOTHESIS CONTROL VARIABLE EXPERMENT CONCLUSION THEORY DATA

8. INFERENCES An inference is an explanation for what we have observed. It explains what might be happening. An inference must be logical. Inferences can be changed as you get more information.

9. What inference can you make? You come into the classroom and you observe someone’s books are on your desk. What inference can you make?

10. Variables The part that changes in an experiment is called a variable . Independent variable is what the scientist or you change in an experiment. Dependent variable is the difference the scientist or you measure after making the change. A Constant variable is what the scientist make sure stays the same so the experiment is a fair test.

11. You Try It! Jan counted the leaves on each of three plants. Then she put one plant under a blue light bulb, another plant under a yellow light bulb, and a third plant under a white light bulb. She kept all three lights on from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. After 2 months, she counted how many leaves each plant had. Name the independent variable, the dependent variable and the constant

12. Check your answers! Independent Variable: the color of the light Dependent Variable: the number of leaves on the plant. Constants: could be the kind of plants, the soil in the plant, the amount of water, the pot size, temperature, the wattage of the light bulb, or the distance the light is from the plant.

13. HERE IS AN EXPERIMENT TO TRY FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE MATERIALS: TRY THIS WITH YOUR CLASSMATE OR PARTNER OBTAIN TWO COINS, A PENNY AND A QUARTER. A CONTAINER OF WATER ( A BEAKER) TWO EYE DROPPERS

14. Write a Hypothesis about your science experiment with the penny and quarter. Hypothesis: What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable?

16. Warm-up Read the article on Methane Found in Mars Atmosphere Make a hypothesis about this article. Write your hypothesis at the bottom of your article.

17. WRITE YOUR HYPOTHESIS FOR YOUR EXPERIMENT IDENTIFY YOUR INDEPENDENT VARIABLE AND YOUR DEPENDENT VARIABLE WHAT ARE TWO CONSTANT VARIABLES?