This document provides instructions and information for students to take notes on the concepts of scientific inquiry, including questions, independent variables, and dependent variables. It defines key terms like independent variable as the factor that is tested or controlled in an experiment, and dependent variable as the factor that is measured and depends on the independent variable. Examples are given to illustrate these variables, such as an experiment testing how temperature as the independent variable affects the number of cricket chirps as the dependent variable. Students are directed to take notes, title their pages, and complete practice identifying variables in sample experiments.

1. Scientific Inquiry
Today we will fill in notes on:
1) Questions
2) Independent Variable
3) Dependent Variable
Notes Directions:
1) In your
binder, title a
fresh page of
notes and
date the
notes.
2) Add a line in
your table of
contents
called
“Scientific
Inquiry
Notes”. Don’t
forget a page
number!

2. Scientific Inquiry
(take these notes in your three ring binder…we’ll go to our
organizers later.
• A process scientists use to study the world and
create explanations based on evidence.
• Let’s make a list on how we can use scientific
thinking in our everyday life:

3. Pose a
Question
Write a
Hypothesis
Design
Experiment
Collect Data
Draw a
conclusion
Communicate
Findings
It’s a never
ending cycle in
how we think!
Sometimes, by
doing the
experiment we
come up with
another question
and the process
continues.

4. Pose a Question
(OK – Start filling in your organizer!)
• Based on observations and answered by
gathering data.
– NOT based on opinion.
• Which question below is scientific?
– Why has my CD player stopped
working?
– What kind of music should I listen to
on my CD player?

5. Variables
• In science, variables are what you
interested in.
• Based on your question.
• Two Types:
– Independent Variable: The variable that is
tested. (abbreviation: IV)
• Controlled by the experimenter

6. Independent Variables
• Example: A student wanted to know if crickets
chirped more at higher temperatures. They
did an experiment where they placed a
crickets in a three habitats at different
temperatures and counted the number of
chirps.
– IV  Temperature
• BECAUSE it is what’s tested (Temperatures AFFECT ON
chirps).
• BECAUSE it’s controlled by the experimenter.

7. Dependent Variable
 Dependent Variable: The factor that is measured.
“Depends” on the independent variable.
(Abbreviation: DV)
 NOT controlled by the experimenter

8. Dependent Variable
• Example: (see story under independent
variable tab.)
– A student wanted to know if crickets chirped more
at higher temperatures. They did an experiment
where they placed a crickets in a three habitats at
different temperatures and counted the number
of chirps.
• DV  Number of Chirps
– BECAUSE it is measured (counted)
– BECAUSE it is not controlled by the experimenter

9. PRACTICE: with your group, decide which is the
IV and which the DV and write your answers on
the white board.
– You wonder which dissolves first in water;
sugar or salt. To answer your question, you
design an experiment where you put sugar in
water in one cup and salt in water in another
cup. Then you time how long it takes each
substance to dissolve.
• IV 
• DV 

10. PRACTICE: with your group, decide which is the
IV and which the DV and write your answers on
the white board.
• You work for Hasbro making children’s
toys. You wonder which color ball babies
prefer. You design an experiment where
you place three balls in a room. Each ball
is a different color. Using baby
volunteers, you record which color ball
babies crawl to first most often.
– IV 
– DV 

11. PRACTICE: with your group, decide which is the
IV and which the DV and write your answers on
the white board.
• An aerospace engineer (someone who
builds airplanes) is interested in
redesigning the airplane to make them
more fuel efficient. She creates three
possible designs and tests them to see
which is the most fuel efficient.
– IV 
– DV 

12. • GLUE YOUR FLIP BOOK ONTO THE BACK SIDE
OF YOUR NOTES.

13. Homework
• Draw an illustration under the three tabs we
did today that will help you remember the
meaning of each word.
– Questions, IV, and DV.