1. 7th Grade Science State Assessment Review
Link to Standard 1 recording:

2. Standard 1: Science as Inquiry
The student will develop the abilities of do scientific inquiry, be able to demonstrate how scientific inquiry is applied, and develop understandings about scientific inquiry.

3. The student will demonstrate abilities necessary to do the processes of scientific inquiry.  (S1.B1.) 
The student identifies questions that can be answered through scientific investigations. (S1.B1.1)
The student designs and conducts scientific investigations safely using appropriate tools, mathematics, technology, and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data. (S1.B1.2) 
 The student identifies the relationship between evidence and logical conclusions. (S1.B1.3)
The student communicates scientific procedures, results and explanations. (S1.B1.4) 

4. The student will analyze how science advances through the interaction of new ideas, scientific investigations, skepticism, and examinations of evidence of varied explanations. (S1.B3.)
The student evaluates the work of others to determine evidence which scientifically supports or contradicts the results, identifying faulty reasoning or conclusions that go beyond evidence and/or are not supported by data. (S1.B3.2)

5. Scientific Methods
Think of a time when you were stumped by a problem and you had to find a solution on your own. Maybe the chain fell off your bike or you had to work out a tough math problem.
When you don’t understand something, your brain begins to work like a scientist’s.
First, you observe and study the problem. Next, you come up with possible solutions. Then, you test those solutions to see if they helped you solve the problem correctly. Sometimes your solution solves the problem, but other times you have to try again. All of these activities are part of scientific investigation.

6. Why Investigate?
Science is about discovering and understanding how the world around you works. When you observe things happening, you often wonder how or why things act or work the way they do. When you try to find answers to these questions, you are engaging in scientific investigations.
Why would you want to investigate things scientifically?
Here are some good reasons:
You may find answers to questions you are interested in, such as, "Which wheels spin fastest on my skateboard?"
You may discover something unknown, such as a new kind of organism.
The possibilities for scientific investigations are endless!

7. What Is an Investigation?
From the time we are born, humans investigate and look for answers to questions. You might not realize it, but you do scientific investigations all the time. When you seek answers to questions, you are using scientific processes.
Some processes are simple, such as observing, listening, and recording written notes. You can observe the behavior of a bird, listen to different types of birds, and write down your findings in a notebook.
Other times, investigations require a set of ordered steps or procedures. During this process, called the experimental scientific method, you conduct a step-by- step, controlled experiment. This is the type of investigation you have used in many earth science lab activities this year.

8. Investigation, Demonstration, or Experiment?
There are differences between a scientific investigation, an experiment, and a demonstration.
An investigation is the process of finding an answer to a question, often by looking at the cause and effects. An investigation is finding out about something that interests you.
An experiment is one part of a scientific investigation, an activity to measure the effect of something on something else.
A demonstration shows how something happens or works. Demonstrations can be in the form of a model, like a globe, or they can be diagrams, charts, or collections of objects

9. Check to see if you understand the difference between an investigation, experiment, and a demonstration.
Is each of following is an example of an investigation, experiment, or a demonstration.
Will warm water freeze faster than cold water?
Showing someone your rock collection.
Placing a rock outside in the rain to see if it will erode.
How fast will water boil at different altitudes?

10. Answers
This question describes an investigation to test the effect of water temperature on the amount of time it takes to freeze.
This is a demonstration because it involves simply observing a collection of objects.
This is an experiment because it is one part of an investigation to test something (we don't know exactly what) about rocks.
This question describes is an investigation testing the effect of altitude on how fast water boils.

11. Get Organized
Once an investigation is complete, scientists share their results so others can learn and build on their work. With this in mind, it’s important to keep track of what you do in your investigation.

12. Steps to the Experimental Scientific Method
1. Select a topic and write a statement of the problem to be solved. 2. Conduct research to review what’s been done by other scientists. 3. Form a hypothesis by predicting what you think the answer to your question will be. 4. Set up an experiment: • materials—gather everything you need to do the experiment; • procedure—follow the steps to carry out your experiment; • experiment—test your hypothesis according to the procedure. 5. Collect data by describing what happened during the experiment. 6. Analyze the results of what happened during the experiment. 7. Form conclusions and write the answer, if you found one, to the original question or problem. 8. Write and present your research

13. Hypothesis: A Scientist’s Best Guess
All science investigations begin with a question.
A scientific prediction is known as a hypothesis. Scientists develop hypotheses so they can set up useful experiments. A hypothesis gives you a base from which to work.
Once you have developed your hypothesis, you can begin to design an experiment that tests your hypothesis.

14. Variables: Dependent and Independent & Constants and Controls
A variable is anything that can change, or vary. In a controlled experiment, there are two types of variables. Let’s look at each one in detail.
The independent variable is the factor a scientist changes. In an experiment of how plants react to different light levels, the amount of light is the independent variable. The independent variable is often called the IV.
The dependent variable is the factor that may change because of the experiment. In the plant experiment, the condition of the plant (such as whether the leaves are healthy or wilted) is the dependent variable. The dependent variable is often called the DV.
A controlled experiment also contains constants. Constants are things that a scientist keeps the same during an experiment.
In a controlled experiment, the control is the subject that has nothing special done to it. If a scientist tests four different types of vitamins to see which one makes a hamster’s fur the healthiest, the control hamster would not receive any vitamins. 

15. Quantitative (Quantity) & Qualitative (quality) Data
Quantitative data- data recorded as counts or measurements.
remember that quantitative data measure the quantity of something, using numbers.
quantitative data often collected using measuring tools such as a ruler, graduated cylinder, scale, or stopwatch.
Qualitative data-data from observations
You can remember that qualitative data measure the qualities of something (Ex. Color, shape)
Qualitative data are often expressed as word descriptions of things such as color, cloudiness, presence of water, or straightness of a path.