1. How to Write a Testable Question
Escrevendo seu procedimento
Tamara Helfer, 2012 Sequoia Science Explorations

2. Making observations causes scientists to become curious and ask questions about the world around them!
Fazer observações faz com que os cientistas tornem-se curiosos e façam-se perguntas sobre o mundo em torno deles!
Para responder a estas perguntas, a maioria de cientistas realizam investigações usando o método científico.
To answer these questions, most scientists carry out investigations using The Scientific Method.

3. The Scientific Method Ask a Question Form a Hypothesis
Ask a Testable Question!
Form a Hypothesis
Design an Experiment to Test Your Hypothesis
Independent and Dependent Variables
Controls
Draw Conclusions
O método científico

4. What is a “Testable Question?”
A testable question is one that can be answered by designing and conducting an investigation.
Testable questions are always about changing one thing to see what the effect is on another thing.
O que é “uma pergunta Testable?”
Uma pergunta testable é uma que pode ser respondida projetando e conduzindo uma investigação.
As perguntas Testable são sempre sobre a mudança de uma coisa para ver o que o efeito é em uma outra coisa.

5. Testable Question Formats
Does changing _______ affect _______?
How does changing _____ affect _____?
If I change ______, will it affect ______?
Formatos Testable da pergunta
_______ mudar afeta o _______?
Como _____ mudar afeta o _____?
Se eu mudar o ______, afetará o ______?
In a scientific experiment, these two blanks have special names: variables

6. Sample Testable Question
Does changing the height of the ramp
affect
the speed of a car going down the ramp?
Pergunta Testable da amostra
Mudando a altura da rampa afeta a velocidade de um carro ir abaixo a rampa?

7. A variable is something that can CHANGE.
What is a variable?
A variable is something that can CHANGE.
An independent variable – this is changed by you – the scientist.
A good experiment has only one independent variable!
A dependent variable – this is being measured in your experiment
The response to the change you make using the independent variable.
Que é uma variável?
Uma variável é algo que pode MUDAR.
Uma variável independente - esta é mudado por você - o cientista.
Uma experiência boa tem somente uma variável independente!
Uma variável dependente - isto está sendo medido em sua experiência
A resposta à mudança que você faz usando a variável independente.

8. Testable Question Formats
Does changing _______ affect _______?
How does changing _____ affect _____?
If I change ______ will it affect ______?
independent
variable
dependent
variable
independent
variable
dependent
variable
independent
variable
dependent
variable

9. Example:
Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?

10. What is the independent variable?
Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?

11. Independent Variable
Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?

12. What is the dependent variable?
Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?

13. Dependent Variable
Does changing the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?

14. Another Testable Question
Does changing the amount of light affect the growth rate of plants?
Identify the INDEPENDENT variable
Identify the DEPENDENT variable

15. Another Testable Question
Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve?
Identify the INDEPENDENT variable
Identify the DEPENDENT variable

16. Review: Testable Questions
Testable Questions need 2 parts: (1) _____________ variable (2) _____________ variable

17. Review: Testable Questions
Testable Questions need 2 parts:
Independent variable
Dependent variable

18. Is this a Testable Question?
What makes plants grow best?

19. How to Turn a General Question into a Testable Question
First, read the question carefully.
What makes plants grow best?

20. How to Turn a General Question into a Testable Question
Next, think of a cause and an effect related to your question.
What makes plants grow best?
In this case, the idea is that you can change something to affect something about how a plant grows.

21. What are examples of things you can change?
What makes plants grow best?

22. What are examples of things you can change?
What makes plants grow best?
Examples:
-Amount of water
-Amount of light
-Soil type

23. What makes plants grow best?
What specific effects
can you look for?
What makes plants grow best?

24. What makes plants grow best?
What specific effects
can you look for?
What makes plants grow best?
Examples:
-Height of plant
-Speed of growth

25. Finally, plug the cause and the effect into the format…
“What is the effect of ____ on ____?”
The cause goes in the first blank, and the effect goes in the second blank.
So a testable question looks like this:
“What is the effect of soil type on plant height?”

26. Controls
Controls are all the things in your experiment that you want to stay the same.
“What is the effect of soil type on plant height?”
Controls for the plant experiment:
type of plant
growing conditions (sunlight, temperature, etc.)
amount of water
type of container

27. Here’s another example... Is it Testable?
How does a paper airplane fly?

28. Let’s Make the Question Testable!
Decide what you are going to change (independent variable)

29. Let’s Make the Question Testable!
Decide what you are going to change (independent variable)
For example:
Size of the plane
Style of the plane
Type of paper

30. Let’s Make the Question Testable!
Decide what you are going to measure (dependent variable)

31. Let’s Make the Question Testable!
Decide what you are going to measure (dependent variable)
For example:
Distance the plane will fly
Length of time the plane stays in the air

32. Make the Question Testable
Now select one independent variable and one dependent variable
Put them together to create the testable question:
“How does the type of paper affect the distance a paper airplane flies?”

33. What are the controls?
“How does the type of paper affect the distance a paper airplane flies?”
Controls:
Style of airplane
Flying conditions (wind)
How you throw the airplane

34. Final Thoughts
Create a question that is clear and has an independent and dependent variable.
Check out the library or my website for ideas to get you started!
Use these notes to help you!