Unit 1: Scientific Investigation

Daysheet 6: Biology Pre-Assessment

Biology I

Bellringer:
Directions: Decide if the following terms are Science S or Not Science NS
____ peer reviewed

____ limited to the natural world

____ based on belief

____ modifiable

____ absolute

____ rigid

Directions: Label the following as observation (O) or inference (I). If something is an observation,
decide if it is a quantitative observation (QN) or a qualitative observation (QL).
_________ the penguins are in their nests

________ the bears favorite food is honey

_________ the penguins seem very aggressive

________ there are 5 bears in the den

Directions: In the space below, list as many test-taking strategies you can think of:
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Todays Objective: I can demonstrate my current knowledge of biology by completing the pre-test
Homework: HW6 is due next class!
Activity 1: Pre-Assessment

Activity 2: Biomonsters Website

Directions: Follow the steps below to familiarize yourself with the biomonsters website:
STEP 1: Open an internet window
STEP 2: Go to www.biomonsters.com
STEP 3: At the top of the page, click on Courses
STEP 4: On the courses page, click on Academic Biology
STEP 5: On the Academic Biology page, explore the links below. Write a description of what
information and / or resources you can find on each page:

WHAT WE DID IN CLASS TODAY: _____________________________________________

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CLASS CALENDAR: __________________________________________________________

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HOMEWORK HELPER: ________________________________________________________

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VIDEO PODCASTS: ___________________________________________________________

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STEP 6: Go to back to the biomonsters homepage (www.biomonsters.com) . Click on the Interactive
Biology Glossary. Click on the following links and write a description of what information and/or
resources you can find on each page:
THE LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE: _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

MORE: ______________________________________________________________________
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Activity 3: The Scientific Method

Purpose: To find out more about the steps of the scientific method!
Task: As you read, answer the questions below
Outcome: When you finish reading, you should be able to put the steps of the scientific method
in order and define important scientific method vocabulary
What is science? Science is more than just a few chapters in a textbook. Science is a
process. It is a constant search for information about our universe. Scientists are like crime
scene investigators. They use a process to solve a mystery. The process scientists use to
solve problems is called the scientific method.
1. What is the scientific method? ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

The first step of this method is to make observations and state a problem or question. Have
you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Or how your skin heals when you cut it? If so, you
have taken the first step of the scientific method. A scientist might ask, for example, which
warms faster water or land?
2. What is the first step of the scientific method? ________________________________
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Second, the scientists will gather background information about their question or problem.
After all the information is gathered, the scientist gives a possible solution to the problem.
This educated guess is called a hypothesis. For example, she might say, "Water warms
faster than land."
3. What is the second step of the scientific method? _____________________________
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4. What is a hypothesis? _____________________________________________________
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Next, the scientist will test the hypothesis by doing a controlled experiment. A controlled
experiment has a few very parts. The first important part is the independent variable, which
is what the scientists manipulates (changes) on purpose. In our example, the scientist would
put water in one cup and soil in another cup. She would then put both cups under a heat
lamp.
5. What is an independent variable? ___________________________________________
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The second important part of a controlled experiment is the dependent variable. This is the
effect that the scientist measures. In our example, the scientists would place put a
thermometer in each container. At certain times, the scientist would record the temperature in
each cup.
6. What is the dependent variable? ____________________________________________
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In order for the experiment to be controlled, the scientists needs to make sure it is a fair test.
The scientists will need to make sure there are some things that stay the same in both cups in
her experiment. For example, both cups should be made of the same material to be fair.
Things that stay the same throughout the experiment are called constants.
7. What are constants? ______________________________________________________
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8. What other constants should the scientist use to make the experiment fair?
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The next step in the scientific method is to analyze data. Usually the data is recorded in a
table. Then it might be graphed. This helps the scientist to compare the measurements, and
make conclusions.
After a conclusion is formed, a theory may be developed. A theory is an explanation that is
supported by lots of experiments and evidence. However, even theories can be changed if
different findings are obtained by other experiments. This is the spirit of science: questions
can always be asked and what we know is constantly changing!

7. What is a theory? ________________________________________________________

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8. Can theories ever change? _________________________________________________

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Directions: Write the following steps of the scientific method in order

Draw conclusions

Perform a controlled experiment

Gather background information

State a problem or question

Make a hypothesis

Analyze data

1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________

Directions: Match the following scientific method vocabulary on the left with the correct definition on
the right
1. Independent variable

A. The effect the scientist measures in an experiment

2. Hypothesis

B. An educated guess

3. Dependent variable

C. The process scientists use to solve problems

4. Constants

D. An explanation supported by lots of evidence

5. Controlled experiment

E. Things that stay the same throughout an experiment

6. Theory

F. A fair test of a scientific question

7. Scientific Method

G. what the scientists manipulates (changes) on purpose in an

experiment

HW6: Get Curious Ask Questions!

Biology I

The first step of the scientific method is come up with a question / problem. A good scientific question
must have the following 2 things
1) It is testable (you could design an experiment to figure out the answer)
2) It is written in the form How does ________________affect______________?
Go around your house, neighborhood, or school. Try to come up with at least 10 scientific questions that meet
the requirements listed above. The first is done for you as an example.
1) How does the type of gasoline affect the mileage of a car?

2)

3)

4)

6)

7)

8)

9)

10)