Catalyst

Remember, we always enter silently and immediately begin on our catalyst

Catalysts are graded for participation every Friday

Your catalyst today is a little bit different. Below, you will find three statements. Your catalyst today is to write each statement three times on your catalyst sheet.

(1)I change the Independent Variable. (x3)

(2)The Dependent variable Depends on what I change. (x3)

Objective

SWBAT identify independent, dependent, and control variables given an experiment

Today’s Agenda

CatalystVariables Notes and Practice Time

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T!DEPENDENTCONTROL VARIABLES

Exit QuestionHOMEWORK TONIGHT!

QUIZ ON FRIDAY!

Ms. P’s Cornell Notes

Topics will be written in blue!

Everything that is red is what you need to write down!!

DateCatalyst

Observation Information from your senses

Today’s Objectives

SWBAT identify independent, dependent, and constant variables in a scientific experiment.

SWBAT explain the significance of specific variables in a scientific experiment.

Scientific Inquiry

Scientists use certain ways of thinking. This is called scientific inquiry. Our first unit with be on developing these ways of thinking!!

Observation

Did you notice the weather outside when you arrived at MSE? If so, you made an OBSERVATION.

Observation: information from your sensesExample: You can observe how tall or smooth an object

is.

Inference

Did you ever try to explain why something is a certain color or why it smells like vinegar? If so, you made an INFERENCE.

Inference: an untested conclusion based on your observation.

Example: You infer that Ms. P loves peppermint gum because you OBSERVED blue gum hanging out of her mouth constantly…

Inferring from an Observation

Scientists might observe that one star is brighter than the others.

What could you infer about this star?

Inferring from an Observation

Scientists might observe that one star is brighter than the others.

Scientists could infer that the star is bigger, hotter or closer to Earth.

Experiments - Variables

You can only test 1 THING AT A TIME. Otherwise it is not fair.

So what is a variable?

VARIABLE

Able to

Change

Variable: A factor that can change in an experiment. Every experiment has two – cause effect

Experimentation

Types: 1 independent variable1 dependent variableThe purpose of an experiment is to test how changing ONE THING affects something else.

Independent Variable -The part of the experiment that is manipulated or changed by the scientists or person performing the experiment

“I Change the Independent Variable”

Teacher Models

Scientists have discovered something shocking: if you eat a lot of candy, then you will gain fat. What is the independent variable?A. Eat a lot of candyB. Type of candy you eatC. Amount of candy you eatD. How much weight you gain

Scientific Method-Controls and Variables

Dependent Variable- The part of the experiment that is affected by the independent variable

The dependent variable is what you measure in an experiment

“The Dependent variable Depends on what you do”

Teacher Models

Happy students learn more in school. So, Ms. P believes that starting school later would increase test scores. What is the dependent variable?A. Starting school laterB. Happy studentsC. Time that school startsD. Test scores

Variables

Independent Variable: what causes the change we are measuring (acts independently)

Dependent variable: what gets changed (depends on other things)

RememberVariables are always CATEGORIES of

things: time, amount, frequency, size, typeVariables are NEVER specific things!!!

If you’re having trouble…

4 minutes26 mg of baking sodaLifting weights every

dayMedium t-shirtsBullfrog16 candlesNever gets sick

Time to get dressedAmount of baking

sodaFrequency of lifting

weightsSize of t-shirtsType of frogNumber of candlesDegree of health

WRONG RIGHT

Independen

t Variab

le

Dependent

Variable

The effect!The cause!

Control Variables

Everything but the independent and dependent variable must be kept constant.Constant: variables we keep the same

If many different things change at once, we don’t know what causes the change!

Control Variables

Control variable: a variable which does not change during an experiment keeps results accurate AKA: constant

Control Variable – Example 1

Hulk Hogan and The Rock are both out of shape and want to get their muscles back. Hogan thinks that eating a lot of carbs will bulk him up, but The Rock says that it doesn’t matter what Hogan thinks, you need to eat meat to bulk up.

Control Variable – Example 1

Hogan and The Rock decide to run an experiment: both of them will work out and Hogan will eat carbs while The Rock eats meat to see who gets bigger faster.

Control Variables• How often they work out• What kind of exercises they do• How much of the other food groups they eat

Control Variable – Example 2

You decide to run an experiment to see if eating breakfast makes a difference in performance at school.

Control Variables?

WHITEBOARDS!

Whiteboards 1

Ms. P believes that the more you study, the better grades you’ll earn. What is the independent variable?A. Studying moreB. Amount of time you studyC. Grade earnedD. Type of test

Whiteboards 2

Jada is always cold in class. She hypothesizes that if she wears many layers of clothing to school, then she will be warmer. What is the dependent variable?A. Number of layers Jada wearsB. How cold Jada isC. Temperature of the roomD. Jada will be warmer

Whiteboards 3

Ms. P’s students want to test how easily bought off she is. Students who give her an apple get a “C.” Students who give him candy get an “A.” What is the independent variable?A. Type of foodB. Apples and candyC. “A” on the report cardD. Report card

Whiteboards 4

Deon hates running, but loves listening to music. He believes that if she listens to music while running, then he will run more often. What is the dependent variable?A. he will run more oftenB. Listens to music while runningC. Frequency that Deon runsD. What Deon listens to

Practice

You want to know when in the year there are the most love bugs. Every night, you record how many love bugs you find outside.

IV =

DV =

Control Variables =

Time of year (season/month)

Amount of love bugs

Practice

James needs to run a 6 minute mile in boy’s track club. He believes that if he runs every day, then he will be able to run faster.

IV =

DV =

Control Variables =

Frequency that James runs

Mile time

Practice

Students of different genders were given the same puzzle to assemble. The puzzle assembly time was measured.

IV =

DV =

Control Variables =

Type of gender

Time to assemble puzzle

If there are more students, then there will be more school

buses.

IV =

DV =

Controls =

Amount of students

Number of school buses

If the cost of beignets increases, then fewer

will be sold.

What depends on what?

IV =

DV =

Control Variables =

Amount each beignet costsNumber of beignets sold

IV = Number of recruits

DV = Number of games won

Control Variables =

If the Auburn Tigers recruit more five star recruits, then they will win more games.

Conclusion

A proper experiment always has an independent variable and dependent variable. Everything but the independent and dependent variable must be kept constant. Independent Variable: what causes the change

we are measuring Dependent variable: what gets changed Control variables: variable we keep the same

“I Got This” Independent Practice

8 minutes to complete3 minutes to compare answers

KEEP THIS to help you with homework tonight

Exit Question

Let’s say you want to figure out if drinking milk actually makes you taller. So you drink a glass of milk every day, and record your height every day.

1. What is the independent variable?2. What is the dependent variable?3. What are at least two necessary control

variables?Don’t talk during the Exit Question!