1 Let’s Get Down to Business!Objective: To review the process of scientific inquiry Bell work: What is the difference between an independent and dependent variable? Independent = what is tested or changed by the scientist Dependent = depends on the independent variable; what is measured © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
2 How did YOU do? For the following questions, indicate observation, inference and/or prediction. OBSERVATION : You get home from school to see that there are cookie crumbs on the floor and your little sister has chocolate on her face. INFERENCE: You accuse your little sister of eating all of the cookies. PREDICTION: Since you studied for this test, you will get an A. OBSERVATION: Vanessa had blue streaks in her hair today. OBSERVATION & PREDICTION: I really like Katy Perry, so I will probably like Taylor Swift, too. PREDICTION: If he continues to eat pizza like that, he will gain twenty pounds in the next year. OBSERVATION: My dog sheds her hair in summer. INFERENCE: Shedding probably makes her feel much cooler. © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
3 How did YOU do? For the following questions, indicate observation, inference and/or prediction. OBSERVATION: My father is sixty-five and drives a Cadillac. PREDICTION: I am so clumsy, if I go rollerblading, I will probably fall down. PREDICTION: If I change my socks, then my feet won’t stink. OBSERVATION: That pink flamingo is 5 feet six inches tall. OBSERVATION & PREDICTION: I saw grey clouds in the sky. I think it is going to rain. INFERENCE: The Jolly Green Giant smells like green beans. OBSERVATION & INFERENCE: I saw little brown pellets on the floor last night. We must have mouse in the house. © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC dirty gerdy smelly mellie gnllc
4 What examples did YOU find?How did YOU do? Define qualitative and quantitative observation. Then, make FIVE observations in your classroom for each category. QUALITATIVE QUANTITATIVE An observation that remarks on things such as color, texture, shape, or other characteristic that is not measured by a number. An observation that remarks on the quantity or measurement of something, such as height, weight, distance, volume, density, etc. What examples did YOU find? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
5 UNDERLINE the OBJECTIVE part of each pair of statements.How did YOU do? UNDERLINE the OBJECTIVE part of each pair of statements. 1. I think I will like this film because my friends liked it. The main actor won three awards for his role as the lead vampire! 2. Golden Retriever dogs have a dense undercoat that sheds at least twice a year. Most people who own them dread that time of year when the tumbleweeds of hair start filling up their houses. 3. That was a great football game! The quarterback made a last minute play and ran 50 yards for a touchdown! 4. Ouch! I just stepped on a shard of glass! My foot hurts A LOT! 5. I am the BEST cyclist at the triathlon. I know because I won first place in the cycling event! © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
6 How did YOU do? NOW, UNDERLINE the QUALITATIVE observation(s) and CIRCLE the QUANTITATIVE observation(s) for each. 1. I think I will like this film because my friends liked it. The main actor won three awards for his role as the lead vampire! 2. Golden Retriever dogs have a dense undercoat that sheds at least twice a year. Most people who own them dread that time of year when the tumbleweeds of hair start filling up their houses. 3. That was a great football game! The quarterback made a last minute play and ran 50 yards for a touchdown! 4. Ouch! I just stepped on a shard of glass! My foot hurts A LOT! 5. I am the BEST cyclist at the triathlon. I know because I won first place in the cycling event! © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
7 How did YOU do? Place the following steps of the scientific method in order from 1-7. Why do I keep falling asleep in class? I think I fall asleep in class because I stay up late watching reruns of my favorite show Trip-and-Fall-A-Lot. My first week, I’m going to watch Trip-and-Fall-A-Lot at its usual time and will go to bed as soon as it is over. Then I will count how many times I fall asleep in each class during that week. My second week I will record Trip-and-Fall-A-Lot and watch it right after I get home from school. Then I will count how many times I fall asleep in my classes during that week. Time to tune in to my favorite show! Wow I fell asleep only eight times when I watched it at its regular time but I fell asleep three times the week I watched it after school! I should document that in my data table! I fell asleep more often on days I watched Trip-and-Fall-A-Lot at night. Now what? Staying up late to watch Trip-and-Fall-A-Lot causes me to be more tired the following day and I fall asleep in class. Hey everybody! Watching Trip-and-Fall-A-Lot at night caused me to fall asleep in class! Boohoo, from now on, in order to watch my favorite show, I’m going to need to record it and watch it after school. © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
8 Whether or not I fall asleep in classHow did YOU do? In the previous experiment, identify the following: INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The time I watch TV DEPENDENT VARIABLE: Whether or not I fall asleep in class LIST THE CONTROL(s): The show I watch, where I watch it, snacks I eat, temperature of the room, blanket I snuggle under, pajamas I wear, TV I watch, time I fall asleep afterward, etc. What are some questions you may have about this experiment? Explain: What Do YOU Think? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
9 How did YOU do? What Do YOU Think? INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: Mosquito EggsIn the experiment, identify the following: INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: Mosquito Eggs DEPENDENT VARIABLE: How many homes are built LIST THE CONTROL(s): Other breakfast ingredients, quantity they eat, age of workers, gender of workers, building materials used, number of workers per group, time of day, etc. What should Froggy Frog’s conclusion be? Explain. The new eggs do not help productivity; the may actually hinder it! What is one way you could improve this experiment? Explain: What Do YOU Think? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
10 How did YOU do? What Do YOU Think? Type of MouthwashIn the experiment, identify the following: INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: Type of Mouthwash DEPENDENT VARIABLE: Whiteness of teeth LIST THE CONTROL(s): Shade chart, amount of mouthwash, time of day, cup used, amount time spent rinsing, type of film used, where and when picture was taken, lighting during the picture, etc. What are some questions you may have about this experiment? Explain: What Do YOU Think? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
11 How did YOU do? In the experiment, identify the following: Does the data support the claim made by Mouse-terine? Explain: Yes! It claims that his teeth will be 50% whiter. Bucky’s teeth were at a 4 at the beginning of the week. 50% whiter would be two more shades lighter, which would be a 6; however, Bucky’s teeth ranked at a 7.5, which is 87.5% whiter than he started! What is one way you could improve this experiment? What Do YOU Think? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC
12 How did YOU do? What Do YOU Think? INDEPENDENT VARIABLE:In the experiment, identify the following: INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: Type of cleanser DEPENDENT VARIABLE: Cleanliness of his glasses LIST THE CONTROL(s): Type of glasses, amount of cleaner used, cloth used, amount of film on each pair, amount of drying time, etc. What Nerdyton’s conclusion be? Explain: None of the cleaners worked. One of them made it worse! What is one way you could improve this experiment? What Do YOU Think? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC