1. STEAM Showcase Variables
Date:
STEAM Showcase Variables
What is a manipulated variable?
What is a responding variable?
What is a constant variable?
Variables
There are 3 kinds of variables:
Manipulated or Independent: What one thing are you changing?
2. Responding or Dependent: What are you measuring?
3. Held Constant: Everything that stays the same. What I am keeping the same is…
PowerPoint is to provide pacing. The lesson plan template provides the specific details.

2. When writing your variables:
Process Skill Connection:
Controlling Variables
When designing an experimental investigation it is important that you only have one manipulated or independent variable and one responding or dependent variable. All other variables must be controlled, which means that they must stay the same!
What is the one thing we are changing in our ramp height challenge? (Manipulated or Independent Variable)
What are we measuring? (Responding or Dependent Variable)
What is staying the same in the investigation of our ramp height challenge? (Constant Variable)
AT: 5-7 min
Log stop: Record any notes on what you are measuring, changing, or keeping constant (the same) in your log. Label this section “Variables.” Make sure to record the date!

3. Identifying OUR Variables
Process Skill Connection:
Controlling Variables
Based on the experiment, here are the variables:
What we will measure:
The amount of time it takes the object to roll down the ramp.
What we will change on purpose:
The height of the ramp.
What we will keep the same:
The surface of the ramp. The type of science books we stack to make the ramp. The object that we roll down the ramp. The object release method. The start and stop positions of the object. The same timer.
AT: 5-7 min
Controlling Variables – manipulating one factor that may affect the outcome of an event while other factors are held constant.
Log stop: Update your variables to reflect what is on the slide. Why do you think it is important for us to measure the rolling time the same way each time?

4. Time to write your variables:
Process Skill Connection:
Writing Variables
Based on my topics question…
I will be changing something in my experiment.
I will be keeping everything else the same in my experiment.
I will be measuring something in my experiment.
AT: 7-10 min
Log stop: Time to record some of the very important points. What did you learn? Make sure to title this section in your log as “variables.” Remember to add the date to this entry! *You may find it helpful to use a graphic organizer—when finished, be sure to glue this evidence into your log!

5. Sample Log: Variables
AT: 1-2 min

6. Variable Practice

8. Questions I have about my variables…
Questions to think about:
Am I keeping everything else the same except for the one variable I am changing?
Why is that important?

9. Don’t forget to add any wonderings you have to the Wonder Wall!
STOP
Don’t forget to add any wonderings you have to the Wonder Wall!
Don’t forget to add student wonderings to the wonder wall on a daily basis to help with generating topic ideas.
We will continue next time…