1. Journal Question: In the science classes you have taken throughout your life, do you accept what you are taught to be true/fact? Why or why not? Explain.

2. “Good science is good observation!” What does that mean?

3. “It is when scientists observe something they have never seen before that they can begin to learn something new about how the world works, and perhaps fix any flaws in their old ideas.” Explain what this quote means.

4. Pouring Water Demonstration
What will happen when you fill a cup with water and then turn it over?
Why is it important for scientists to REPEAT their experiments many times over?

5. How do you collect data?
OBSERVATION

6. What type of data can you collect?
Quantitative Data – numbers (1,2,3,4…)
Qualitative Data – descriptive words (smooth, red, wrinkled…)

7. I, Robot Worksheet
Link if time

8. I, Robot: Is Vivian Living?
YES NO
Grow and Develop
Made of Cells
DNA
Metabolism
Reproduce
Respond to Env.
Homeostasis
Die

9. How The Scientific Method Works:
Scientists use Controlled Experiments:
Experiments that use a control group and experimental group
Everything about the control group and experimental group(s) are identical, except the experimental group(s) contains the variable, or factor being tested, while the control group does not. Let’s look at an example.
Constants are components of the controlled experiment that are kept the same in both the control and experimental groups.

10. How The Scientific Method Works:
1. Observation  The bushes in my yard don’t all grow at the same rate
2. Question  Does the type of light a plant receives affect its growth?
3. Hypothesis  (def: testable explanation)  If I expose several plants to different amounts of light, then they will grow at different rates

11. How The Scientific Method Works (Con’t):
4. Test  (listed in steps) Expose several plants to different amounts of light.
Must include the following things:
Independent Variable/Manipulated Variable? (thing you physically change) __________
Dependent variable? Responding Variable (thing you measure) ____________
Constants?
Setup
How will ensure that all variables are eliminated but one….hypothetical experiment is one thing, actually doing it is very challenging
Amount of light
Height of each plant over time
- Species of Plant
- Type of soil
Amount of water
Temperature
height/condition that each plant starts in (seeds?)

12. How The Scientific Method Works (Con’t):
5. Results: You must decide:
How often to collect data.
Using what instruments
How data will be collected?
Be consistent for all of these things
Data must be organized into charts, graphs, images, video, etc.
6. Conclusion
- Your conclusion must only be based on your results.
- Do the results support your hypothesis? If not, must do further testing. Revise hypothesis and start again
- All controlled experiments must be repeated many times to increase validity

13. How would you test whether or not Lancermycin, a new drug, treats strep throat?
Control group
Experimental Group
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Constants

14. Altoids Lab: Practice with the Scientific Method

15. Let’s brainstorm some common things that people claim: I’ll start us out.
1. Bulls get angry at the color red.

16. What you must include:
Scientific Question
Hypothesis (if/then format)
Test/experiment (details)
Control group
Experimental group
Constants
Manipulated variable
Responding variable

17. YOU NEED YOUR TEXT BOOK TODAY!
JQ: Squidward loves playing his clarinet and believes it attracts more jellyfish than any other instrument he has played. In order to test his hypothesis, Squidward played a song on his clarinet for a total of 5 minutes and counted the number of jellyfish he saw in his front yard. He played the song a total of 3 times on his clarinet and repeated the experiment using a flute and a guitar. He also recorded the number of jellyfish he observed when he was not playing any instrument. The results are shown in the chart below. Answer the following questions.
A. Write Squidward’s hypothesis in an “If, then” format
B. What is the Control Group?
C. What is the Experimental group(s)?
D. What is the manipulated variable?
E. What is the responding variable?
F. What can you conclude from the data? (hint: calculate averages)

18. JQ: A research lab at Rutgers wants to study the effects of Red Bull on mice’s level of physical activity. Answer the following questions:
A. Describe a basic setup for your experiment
B.Write a hypothesis in an “If, then” format
C. What would the Control Group be?
D. What would the Experimental group be?
E. What is the Independent variable?
F. What is the Dependent variable?
G. Constants?

19. YOU NEED YOUR TEXT BOOK TODAY!
JQ: A research lab at Rutgers wants to study the effects of a pesticide called Aramite on the ability of tomato plants to produce tomatoes. The lab believes that tomato production is being stunted, but the manufacturer of Aramite claims it does not affect the plants.
A. Write a hypothesis in an “If, then” format
B. What would the Control Group be?
C. What would the Experimental group be?
D. What is the Independent variable?
E. What is the Depenedent variable?
F. Constants?

20. Today: 1. Review your practice experiments 2. Altoids Lab
3. Design Your Own Experiment (DYOE) Discussion
4. Complete K’Nex Following Directions
Homework: Complete Altoids Lab and K’Nex

21. Following Directions Activity:
Why is it important to follow directions?
Why is it important to define the world around us using the same words?
Why is it important to be able to communicate your thoughts through writing?

22. Following Directions Activity:
1.As you build something with the K’nex, create clear, detailed instructions for how you are building it (as if you were writing the instruction booklet)
2. Completely take apart what you have made. Leave the instructions and K’nex at your table.
3. Move to someone else’s lab table, and try to build what they have described
4. Let’s define what to call each type of piece.

23. JQ: Is an Avatar living or non-living?