Transcript Forming Testable Questions (cont.)

Science Fair in 5 months!
Mentor Training #2
November 21st, 2013
Forming an Experiment
Forming Testable Questions
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A question should be testable or
can be answered by
experimentation
What can you discover by
performing your experiment?
Example: What is the effect of
exercise on heart rate?
Forming Testable Questions
(cont.)
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Once you find a general topic that
interests you, write down the question.
A scientific question begins with: How,
What, When, Who, Which, Why, or
Where
Ex. If you are interested in robots, your
question might be "How much current
does a robot's arm use to lift a weight?"
Forming Testable Questions
(cont.)
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A "fair test”: change only one factor
(variable) and keep all other conditions
the same.
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If you cannot design a fair test, then
change your question.
Forming Testable Questions
(cont.)
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Your science fair project question
should involve factors or traits that
you can numerically measure or
identify
Ex.: count, percentage, length, width,
weight, voltage, velocity, energy, time,
etc.
o Easy to identify:color and smell
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Forming Testable Questions
(cont.)
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The experiment should measure changes
to the important factors (variables)
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One easy change would be the presence
versus the absence of a variable
Do not choose an experiment where
you can not measure the results!!!
Questions to avoid
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Any topic that is based on a simple
preference or taste comparison.
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Topics that are difficult to make or
repeat
Topics that involves dangerous, hard
to find, expensive, or illegal
materials.
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How to Form a Hypothesis
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A hypothesis is an educated guess about
how things work.
Basic structure: "If _____[I do this] _____,
then _____[this]_____ will happen." (Fill
in the blanks with the appropriate
information from your own experiment.)
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Sometimes a hypothesis will also include a
“because” statement at the end
How to Form a Hypothesis (cont.)
• Your hypothesis should be a
testable hypothesis.
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In other words, you need to
be able to measure both
"what you do" and "what will
happen."
How to Form a Hypothesis (cont.)
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Independent variable - the variable that
is changed by the scientist.
Dependent variable - the variable the
scientist observes.
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Changes in the dependent variable depend on
changes in the independent variable.
Controlled variables are quantities that
a scientist wants to remain constant
throughout the experiment.
Examples of variables:
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The Testable Question: Does heating a
cup of water allow it to dissolve more
sugar?
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Independent Variable: Temperature of
the water (Measured in degrees
Centigrade).
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Dependent Variable: Amount of sugar
that dissolves completely (Measured in
grams). “this is the data you get”
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Controlled Variables: Stirring, Type of
sugar (variables that are same)
How to Form a Hypothesis (cont.)
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Hypothesis: "If a particular independent
variable is changed, then there is also a
change in a certain dependent variable."
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Null Hypothesis: “If a particular independent
variable is changed, then there will not be a
change in a certain dependent variable."
Therefore the IV had no effect on the
outcome of the experiments
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Remember, you must be able to measure
the variables in the hypothesis for it to be
testable.
Project Ideas
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All experiments must be approved by Mrs.
Bandrowski before experimentation. If there
are further questions, contact us at:
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[email protected]
AND Mrs. Bandrowski at
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[email protected]
In the subject line put:
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“SA Project Procedure & Materials” if seeking
approval for project
“SA Project Materials Request” if seeking to
borrow materials.
Project idea sites:
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http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scifair/index.html
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http://www.tryscience.org/experiments/experiment
s_home.html
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Also, look in the mentor binder for
additional idea sites.
Experimental Procedure
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A Procedure is a NUMBERED list of steps
INCLUDING safety equipment steps (goggles,
parental supervision, etc.) you must need to
perform experiment.
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Tell how you will change your independent variable
and how you will measure that change.
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Tell how you will measure the resulting change in
the dependent variable.
Experimental Procedure (cont.)
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If applicable, explain how the controlled
variables will be maintained at a constant
value.
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Specify number of trials to verify that your
results are accurate and able to be
reproduced.
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To be scientifically valid, an experiment
should have a minimum of 3 trials,
preferably more
Background Research
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Buddies always do background
research BEFORE writing the
procedure
Then they should write a BRIEF 1-2
page summary on what they learned
This is the HARDEST part of the
project
Background Research
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As a mentor, you need to:
-google your buddy’s testable
question
-email 5 sites to the buddy
You do not, however, need to write
the background report for your
buddy (although you should
definitely help them with it!)
Background Research
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A good reference is informative, yet
easy for a buddy to understand
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It should relate to your buddy’s
testable question
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A good reference can be a link at
the bottom of the page from
Wikipedia
Background Research
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If you can’t find enough information,
encourage your buddy to find it in
books, magazines, etc.
(from libraries/bookstores and/or
teachers/school librarians)
Remember to make sure that the
buddy uses his/her own words and
does not copy/paste information
Research Notebook
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The research notebook should read
like a diary from the beginning to the
end of the project including: dates,
times, thoughts, and processes.
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Should contain all experimental forms
including those for hazardous material,
bacteria, etc.
o The notebook should contain all materials,
procedures, research, and data.
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Research Notebook (cont.)
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Your buddy must have their
research notebook at all the buddy
meetings and during all
experimentation.
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Encourage your buddies to use
complete sentences and data tables
in their research notebook.
Reminders: Emails
 Make
sure you email your buddy at least
once a week!
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 If
Don’t forget to CC communications, your
mentor trainer, and the buddy’s parent
they don’t reply, CALL them 