How to Write a Testable Question Review What

How to Write a Testable Question

Review: What is a “Testable Question? ” A testable question is one that can be answered by designing and carrying out an experiment.

Testable Questions have • A dependent variable. • An independent variable. (A VARIABLE is something in an experiment that changes)

What is a Dependent Variable? • Something that we will measure in an experiment

What is an Independent Variable? • Something that we will change in an experiment

Testable Question The thing we change - independent variable • Does ______ affect _________? The thing we measure – dependent variable

Spot the parts of a testable question. Find : 1. The dependent variable – the thing we would measure. 2. The independent variable – the thing we would change.

Testable Question 1 • Does the height of the ramp affect the speed of the car going down the ramp? What would you measure? What would you need to change?

Testable Question 2 • Does changing the amount of light affect how much a plant grows? What would you measure? What would you need to change?

Testable Question 3 • Does the temperature of water affect the time it takes a sugar cube to dissolve? What would you measure? What would you need to change?

Testable or Not Testable? Review • Testable Questions need 2 parts – _____________ variable

Testable Question Format Independent variable Does changing _______ affect _______?

How to make a Testable Question Step 1: Read the question carefully. Which type of shoe makes you run faster, Nike or Adidas?

Step 2: Work out what you would change and what you would measure. Which brand of shoe makes you run faster, Nike or Adidas?

Step 3: Use the question style: So the correct testable question looks like… Independent variable Does _______ affect _______? “Does the brand of shoe affect how fast you can run? ”

Problem 1 Non-Testable: What happens if you wear a sweatshirt during gym ? Testable: Does wearing a sweatshirt during gym affect how warm you get?

Problem 2 Non-Testable: Do children do better at school if they have lots of tests? Testable: Does doing tests affect student success?

Is it Testable? How does a paper airplane fly?

Let’s Make the Question TESTABLE! Decide what you are going to measure For example: • Distance the plane will fly • Length of time the plane stays in the air

Make the Question Testable Now select decide what will be changed. For example: • The paper the plane is made of • The shape of the plane

Make the Question Testable How does a paper airplane fly? _________________________________

TICKET TO LEAVE! Write your own testable question _____________________________