Name:_______________________________Period:________
Scientific Inquiry: Note-taking Guide
This guide will help you to organize and understand the important pieces of the
scientific process. Please write down anything you feel is important.
Scientific Inquiry is…
1. Variables
What is a variable?
Define the following kinds of variables:
Independent:
Dependent:
Constant:
Give an example of an experiment and identify each kind of variable in the experiment:
What is a control group? Give two examples:
Do the Simpsons Variables page.
Do the Writing Research Questions page.
2. Writing a research question
What is a research question?
How should a “good” research question be worded?
Go back and take a look at Writing Research Questions.
3. Background Information:
What should be included in this section (list and describe each one):
a.
b.
c.
Why is it important to define vocabulary or explain the history of your project in the
background section?
4. Hypothesis:
What is a hypothesis?
What is a good way to word a hypothesis?
Do the Writing Hypotheses page.
5. Materials:
What is in this section and how should it be listed?
6. Procedure:
What should be included here?
Can your procedure be too detailed?
Do the Mythbusters: Pea Plants page.
Do the Designing Practice: Your Choice page.
7. Data collection:
What is raw data?
What is an observation?
8. Analysis & Conclusion:
Draw a sample table:
Draw a sample graph:
Don’t forget to include the _______________on your graphs!
Explain the things you should have in a good conclusion:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Other Notes
Name:____________________________________________________________Period:_________
Writing Hypotheses
Write a hypothesis for each of the scenarios given below.
Remember: If independent variable and how it is changed, then dependent variable
and how it is changed, because reason for thinking this.
Example: I want to know if the amount of time I study will change my math score.
Independent Variable: Amount of time spent studying_____________________
Dependent Variable: Score on a math test______________________________
Research Question: How does the amount of time you study affect your scores on a math test?
Hypothesis: If I study more, then the score on a math test will be higher, because studying will make
you better at doing math, so you will get more problems correct and have a higher score.
1. I want to know how the size of a soccer ball affects how far I can kick the ball.
Independent Variable:______________________________________________
Dependent Variable:_______________________________________________
Research Question:
Hypothesis:
2. I want to know if I jump higher wearing shoes or barefoot.
Independent Variable:______________________________________________
Dependent Variable:_______________________________________________
Research Question:
Hypothesis:
3. I want to see if plants grow better with natural or fluorescent lighting.
Independent Variable:_______________________________________________
Dependent Variable:________________________________________________
Research Question:
Hypothesis:
4. Now write your own scenario, identify the variables, and write your own hypothesis.
Scenario:
Independent Variable:_______________________________________________
Dependent Variable:________________________________________________
Research Question:
Hypothesis:
Name:____________________________________________________________Period:_________
Mythbusters: Talking To Pea Plants
Watch the Mythbusters episode from Season 1, where they talk to pea plants. As you watch the
episode, write down their question, an hypothesis from one of the crew (NOT YOUR OWN), identify
variables, the materials you saw them use, and the procedure you saw them do.
Question: How does _____________________________ affect _________________________?
Hypothesis: If __________________________, then _______________________________ because
________________________________________________________________________________.
Independent Variable (what the scientists are changing)____________________________________________
Dependent Variable (what the scientists are measuring)_____________________________________________
Constants (at least 3)__________________________________________________________________
Materials:
Step-By-Step Procedure:
Name:____________________________________________Date:_____________________Period:______
Designing Practice: Your Choice
Pick one of the following scenarios. Circle the scenario you chose. Then, design an experiment for
the scenario.
1. I want to know if plants will sprout faster using plain soil or soil with Miracle Gro fertilizer.
2. I have two sets of wheels for my skateboard. One set is hard rubber, the other set is softer
rubber. I want to compare the wheels and see how fast I go with each set.
3. I’m going to bake chocolate chip cookies. I want to see if using baking powder or baking soda
makes them thicker.
4. I want to see if I run a mile faster listening to my I-pod or running without music.
Variables: 2pts
Independent:_____________________________________________________________________________
Dependent:______________________________________________________________________________
3 constants:______________________________________________________________________________
Research question (‘how does’ format): 1 pt __________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Background Information: 2 pts
List any vocabulary words you think are important for this experiment. Define each word in your own words or
using a dictionary.
Do you have previous experience with this topic? If so, explain what you know about this topic:
Hypothesis (‘if, then, because…’ format): 2pts ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Materials list (remember to include how much of each item!): 1 pt
Procedures (Be detailed! You can add more steps if needed, but try to have at least 10 steps): 2pts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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12.
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