Identifying Variables and Creating a Hypothesis Skills and

Identifying Variables and Creating a Hypothesis Skills and Processes

Maryland Science Content Standard • Explain that if more than one variable changes at the same time in an investigation, the outcome of the investigation may not be clearly attributable to any one of the variables. (Skills and Processes A 1 e)

Objective • Students will identify variables in scientific questions in order to form a hypothesis.

Notebook • Title: • Date: Variables/Hypothesis 9/16/2021

Notebook • Variables change: – Independent: Does not need the dependent variable in order to change – Dependent: Only changes when the independent variable changes

From Observation to Variable • Chose one of the observations you had outside that is subject to change – Example: the number of different plant species in an area • Determine what can cause that “variable” to change – Example: the amount of foot traffic the area receives

Which is Which? ? • In the previous example, the observation “Number of species of plants in a given area” (dependent variable) is determined by the cause “the amount of foot traffic” (independent variable)

Your Turn Formative Assessment • Using the observations collected outside, you are going to: 1. Formulate a scientific question – One that can be tested 2. Determine the variables in that question – What can change 3. Identify the specific variables – Independent or dependent

Hypothesis • Now…. . what’s going to happen to your dependent variable when your independent variable changes in a particular way? ? – Example: • If the amount of foot traffic increases then the number of species of plants in that area will decrease. – Can this be tested? ? ?

Hypothesis – A hypothesis is written in an “If…. . then…. ” statement, including both the independent and dependent variables • Change in the independent variable will be mentioned first • What you think is going to happen to the dependent variable will be mentioned second. – A hypothesis is based on research and past experience…. . • It is NOT an EDUCATED GUESS!!!!!

Your Turn…. Formative Assessment • Develop a hypothesis based on your scientific question and your variables. • If then statement