Name____________________________________ Date ____________________________ Period__________________
eDay Lesson Number 2.
The first two pages here are review of terms. The lesson begins on the 3 rd page.
Review Notes for 7th grade eday 2 – The Scientific Method
Variable
 Means changeable
Independent Variable (IV)
 The tested variable
 The manipulated variable
 The variable the person purposely changes
Dependent Variable (DV)
 The measured variable
 The responding variable
 The variable that changes during the experiment as it responds to the test.
Controlled variables
 The variables that are kept constant OR are consistent so they will not affect the results of the experiment.
Hypothesis: The hypothesis states want you EXPECT to happen. It should be written in the IF-THEN format.
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If should include the IV (independent variable).
Then should include the DV (dependent variable).
Data Table and Graphs
 Data Table- The headings should include the IV and the DV and each item you are testing. Some headings will be
at the front of rows and some will be at the top of columns.
 Graph- The x-axis usually has the IV and the y-axis usually has the DV.
See the examples on the back of this paper.
Helper Examples for the eday 2 lesson.
Example One:
Dylan wants to know if potatoes will sprout better in the light or the dark. He will observe his potato for 3 weeks.
Potato in light
Potato in dark
Same potato
Same temperature
# of sprouts will be counted each
week for 3 weeks
IV: the amount of light
DV: the number of sprouts
CV: a. potato type b. temperature
c. amount of water on the paper towel
Hypothesis: If the potato is kept in the dark, then it will have more sprouts.
Data table needs headings for the potato in the light, the potato in the dark, spaces for each week, and the number of
sprouts.
Example Two:
Debby is going to do an experiment to determine if the way a person dresses affects the number of candy bars they sell.
Three friends will sell candy bars before the basketball game.
Seller is dressed up.
Seller is wearing
sweats and T-shirt.
Seller is wearing the
team’s colors.
IV: the seller’s appearance
DV: the number of candy bars sold
CVs: same kind of candy bar
same price
same selling technique
Hypothesis: If the seller wears the team colors, then more candy bars will be sold.
Data table needs headings for the each seller’s way of dressing and the number of candy bars sold.
eDay Lesson Number 2.
You need to print this lesson and complete on the paper. This assignment must be turned in to your science teacher
within two weeks of returning to school. This assignment will be graded as a homework assignment. Your science
teacher will be available for questions about this assignment for the first three days upon returning to school
from 7:10 am until 7:30 am. Consideration will be given for students who do NOT have internet access from home. They
will receive the lesson or a comparable lesson upon return.
Warm-up:
1. Science can answer only some questions. Which of the following questions cannot be answered by scientific
investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
How many buds does an average rose bush produce in a season?
Is a red rose more beautiful than a white rose?
What color will be produced by crossing a red rose with a white rose?
Will fertilizer X produce more growth on rose bushes than fertilizer Y?
2. Darren wants to a science project on paper towels. Which of the following questions best lends itself to scientific
methods of investigation?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Which paper towel is prettiest?
Which color of paper towel looks best in her family’s kitchen?
Which paper towel is most absorbent?
Which brand of paper towel is most popular?
Practice: Two students are planning an experiment using crickets in identical containers. The students wish to
determine the effect of temperature on the number of cricket chirps per minute. Identify the following in the space
below.
Independent Variable (Manipulated) _____________________________________________________________
Dependent Variable (Responding)________________________________________________________________
Constant (Controlled Variable) _________________________________________________________________
Learning Targets:
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
Formulate and identify questions to guide scientific investigations that connect to science concepts and can be
answered through scientific investigations.
Explain that variables and controls can affect the results of an investigation and that ideally one variable should
be tested at a time; however it is not possible to control all variables.
Identify independent and dependent variables.
Using the Scientific Method:
Scientific methods can be used to solve all kinds of problems. Select one of the problems below or choose one of your
own. Come up with a way to find an answer to the problem and write your steps in the spaces provided.
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The temperature best suited for storing un-popped popcorn.
What pencil brand has the longest lasting eraser?
What brand of basketball shoe allows you to jump highest?
Does sitting at the front of the classroom result in better grades?
How steep can you build a remote controls car ramp without causing the car to stall?
Title:
Problem:
Question:
Hypothesis: Written as an “If_____________________________
then____________________” statement.
Materials: (Be sure to make a list)
Independent Variable (Manipulated Variable):
Dependent Variable (Responding Variable):
Variable kept Constant (Controlled Variables):
Procedure: (Detailed steps in the form of a list)
Method of Data Collection: (Draw out data tables and graphs as if you were to record data in
them.)