This document provides instructions for an activity using an online simulation called the Effect of Environment on New Life Form Gizmo. Students are asked to conduct controlled experiments by manipulating variables like sunlight, water, and temperature to determine their effects on alien shapes. They record observations on a tree map and analyze whether changing one variable at a time affected the aliens. The goal is to identify the variable or variables that influence the aliens' appearance and understand why controlling variables one at a time is important.

1. Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________
Student Exploration: Effect of Environment on New Life Form
BELLWORK: Prior Knowledge Question (Do this BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
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Gizmo Warm-up
1. Thin: _______ Medium: _______ Thick:
_______
2. ______________
3. _______________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________
ACTIVITY: CONTROLLING VARIABLES/ CAUSE & EFFECT THINKING MAP
VARIABLE CAUSE VARIABLE EFFECT
EVENT:
Aliens are
changing
shapes.
MAKING A HYPOTHESIS
IF….
THEN

2. 2. Record: Thin: _______ Medium: _______ Thick: _______
3. Observe:
i. Thin: _______ Medium: _______ Thick: _______
ii. Thin: _______ Medium: _______ Thick: _______
4. Analyze___________________________________________________________________
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5. Form a hypothesis: If ________________________________________________________
6.
TREE MAP
EXPERIMENT ON
WHAT AFFECTS ALIEN SHAPES?
LABEL
BELOW
EXPERIMENT 1 EXPERIMENT 2 EXPERIMENT 3
WATER: WATER: WATER:
SUN: SUN: SUN:
TEMP: TEMP: TEMP:
RESULT:
7. Describe a controlled experiment you could use to test your hypothesis.
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8. Run the experiment you have described on the Tree map above. Write your results
on the tree map, if any.
9. Label your independent variable, dependent variable, and constants. (Constants are
variables that don’t change in the experiment.
10. Run the Gizmo: Run controlled experiments to determine the effect of each variable.

3. i. How does changing the amount of sunlight affect the aliens? ___________________
TREE MAP
Does changing sunlight affect aliens?
EXPERIMENT 1 EXPERIMENT 2 EXPERIMENT 3
WATER: WATER: WATER:
SUN: SUN: SUN:
TEMP: TEMP: TEMP:
Dep. Var:
Conclusion:
ii. How does changing the amount of water affect the aliens? ____________________
TREE MAP
Does changing the amount of water affect
aliens?
EXPERIMENT 1 EXPERIMENT 2 EXPERIMENT 3
WATER: WATER: WATER:
SUN: SUN: SUN:
TEMP: TEMP: TEMP:
Dep. Var:
Conclusion:

4. iii. How does changing the temperature affect the aliens? ________________________
TREE MAP
Does changing temperature affect aliens?
EXPERIMENT 1 EXPERIMENT 2 EXPERIMENT 3
WATER: WATER: WATER:
SUN: SUN: SUN:
TEMP: TEMP: TEMP:
Dep. Var:
Conclusion:
11. Draw conclusions: Look at all 3 controlled experiments: Which variable or variables affected
the aliens?
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12. Think and discuss: Why is it important to only change one variable at a time? If possible,
discuss your answer with your classmates and teacher.
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