1. Bell Ringer-“Do Now” Write five sentences to describe yourself.
Ex.: I am 300 centimeters tall.

2. Review Bell Ringer-“Do Now”
Write 5 sentences to describe yourself.
Ex.: I am 300 centimeters tall.
I have brown hair.
I have brown eyes.
I have two brothers and one sister.
I have one daughter.

3. Bell Ringer/Do Now-Discussion
Each group member will share an observation.
Group #1, Member A will share an observation.
Then Group #2, Member A will share another observation.
Go around to each group’s Member A
Member A can be based on hair length-person with the longest hair or just choose a chair and get everyone who sits in that chair.
Discuss similarities and differences-
Some have #’s and some have words to describe
Also know as… Qualitative and Quantitative

4. Activity-Pop the Balloon
Materials:
Goggles
Balloons
Worksheet
Objective:
Pop the balloon
Make observations-three quantitative and three qualitative
Come up with three testable questions that are based on your observations.
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

5. Balloon Inquiry Activity
Worksheet Alternative for Projection

6. Quantitative Observations-should have numbers
Balloon Inquiry Activity Task:blow up and pop a balloon. Then make observations and come up with testable questions as a result of your observations. Complete the following on your own sheet of paper.
Quantitative Observations-should have numbers
Qualitative Observations-should have words/descriptions 1. 2. 3.
Leave space for more observations after your group discussion 1. 2. 3.
Testable Questions: 1. 2. 3.
Next-When you have completed the above share your work with your group. You can add to yours above
After you share with your group we are going to share with the class. You can add more now if you like as well.

7. Balloon Inquiry Activity-Discussion
A member from each group will share an observation.
Then, a member from another group will answer the question: “Is this an observation? What type of observation is it?” based on the observation that was just shared.
The student who shared the observation will state whether or not the student who answered the question is correct
Circulate so that a member from every group has a chance to share an observation and answer a follow-up question.
Each group member will then share a testable question .
I suggest using a methodology to circulate through the students so that every one has a chance to talk, such as using a revolving hot seat that group members switch off in. Also see the example scenario in Formative Assessment, Student-Driven Discussion: Whole Group/Class

8. Identifying Variables
Photo by: K. Pagan
Goal: Identify independent and dependent variables in an experiment.

9. Types of Variables
There are two main types of variables: Independent (Test) Variable: The variable that is changed/tested by the scientist; the ‘I change’ variable. Dependent (Outcome) Variable: The variable that changes because of what the scientist changes; ”Data” quantitative and qualitative observations and data.

10. Let’s see it-Apply what we learned
Your testable question can TELL you what your variables are! Ex. If Ame drinks coffee before bed, then she will not sleep very much. Independent Variable (Test): drinking coffee Dependent Variable(Outcome): the amount of sleep

11. Now read the following experiment, what is the testable question and identify the independent and dependent variables Julia wanted to test if temperature affected how fast milk goes bad and curdles. She left milk at room temperature, a fridge, and a garage in the summer in Florida. She then measured the amount of bacteria in the milk after 10 days. Testable Question: ______________________ Independent (Test) Variable (IV): ______________________ Dependent (Outcome) Variable (IV): _____________________
Independent Variable: location temperature
Dependent Variable: souring of milk and curdle

12. Group 1 -Practice
Use this testable question to identify the variables: Does the amount of time the lights remain on in my house affect the price of my electric bill? Independent (Test) Variable: __________________ Dependent (Outcome) Variable: _______________
Independent Variable: time lights are on
Dependent Variable: price of electric bill

13. Group 2- Practice
If I brush my cat for more hours, will the mass of cat fur on the furniture be reduced? Independent (Test) Variable: ______________________ Dependent (Outcome) Variable: _____________________
Independent Variable: number of hours brushing cat
Dependent Variable: mass of fur on furniture

14. Group 3 -Practice
If you increase the number of vegetables you eat, then you will increase your health attend fewer doctor’s visits per year.
Independent (Test) Variable (IV): _____________
Dependent (Outcome) Variable (IV): __________
Independent Variable: number of vegetables consumed
Dependent Variable: health/doctors visits

15. Group 4 -Practice
If you increase the volume of milk you drink, will you increase your bone density?
Independent (Test) Variable (IV): _____________
Dependent (Outcome) Variable (IV): __________
Independent Variable: volume of milk consumed
Dependent Variable: bone density

16. Group 5 -Practice
How does the amount of precipitation affect the number of green leaves present on a tree?
Independent (Test) Variable (IV): _____________
Dependent (Outcome) Variable (IV): __________
This scientific study is an observation and not an experiment
Distinguish between an experiment (which must involve the identification and control of variables) and other forms of scientific investigation and explain that not all scientific knowledge is derived from experimentation.

17. The previous slide was an example of a a scientific study that is NOT derived from experimentation.
Goal: Distinguish between an experiment (which must involve the identification and control of variables) and other forms of scientific investigation such as observation and explain that not all scientific knowledge is derived from experimentation.
Another example:
How does the number of friends on a social media affect GPA?

18. Group 6 -Practice
Will an increase in the number of hours you spend in practice increase the number of free throw shots you will make?
Independent (Test) Variable (IV): _____________
Dependent (Outcome) Variable (IV): __________
Independent Variable: amount of hours spent practicing
Dependent Variable: number of free throw shots

19. Group 5 -Practice
If you increase the amount of blood in the water, then will you increase the number of sharks in a 1 mile radius?
Independent (Test) Variable: _____________
Dependent (Outcome) Variable: __________
Independent Variable: amount of blood in water
Dependent Variable: number of sharks

20. Now that you know about variables:
Design your own experiment using your experience with popping the balloon
What is your Question?
What is your Testable Question/Hypothesis?
What measurements are you making? What tool(s), if any tool.
What is your Independent (test) Variable?
What is your Dependent (test) Variable?

21. Design a Balloon Experiment
Worksheet Alternative for Projection

22. Your Design 1. Testable Question 2. Measurement/Tool(s)
3. Independent (Test) variable:
4. Dependent (Outcome) Variable

23. Design a Balloon Experiment-Discussion
Each group member will share a testable question.
Students will should alternate identifying peers’ independent and dependent variables and confirming whether questions are testable
Discuss:
-Is the question testable?
-How can it be tested? Tools? Units? (remember scientists use metrics)
-Are the variables properly identified?
-Revisit the I is what I change and D is data.

24. Next Slide is the Summative Assessment

25. Ticket to Leave Read about these two experiments then write a testable question and identify the different variables, independent and dependent.
1.  A scientists is testing to see if there is a connection between how long you run and how fast your heart beats. A person will run for 1 minute and then check their heart rate. Then they will run for 2 minutes and check their heart rate. Repeat this up to 6 minutes and see if there is a connection. What is a possible hypothesis? What are the variables?
A. Testable Questions:__________________________________________________________________________
B. Independent (Test) Variable: ________________________________________________
C. Dependent (Outcome) Variable: _________________________________________________
2. A scientist is testing to see if the pH level of the soil has any effect on the plant height.  She changes the soil pH to low and high for different plants. What is a possible testable question? What are the variables?  
B. Independent (Test) variable: ________________________________________________ 1.
A. Testable Question/Hypothesis: If you run for a longer amount of time then your heart rate will increase.
B. Independent (Test) Variable: Amount of time running
C. Dependent (Outcome) Variable: Heart rate 2.
A. Testable Question/Hypothesis: What effect does the pH of soil have on plant growth?
B. Independent (Test) Variable: pH level of soil
C. Dependent (Outcome) Variable: Height of plant (in metric)