Introduction to the 3 types of Middle School Investigations

Unit 1: ExplainIntroduction to the 3 types of Middle School Investigations

Definitions used in this presentation are from the “Lab_and_Field_Investigations_FAQ_August_2010.pdf” , published by TEA and retrieved on May 9th, 2012

EPISD Standard Based Curriculum 2015-2016

Scientific Investigation and Reasoning TEKS: 6.2 The student uses scientific inquiry methods during laboratory and field investigations. The student is expected to:

Student Expectation: 6.2A) plan and implement comparative and descriptive investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, and using appropriate equipment and technologyStudent Expectation: 6.2B) design and implement experimental investigations by making observations, asking well-defined questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and using appropriate equipment and technology

Create a 3 Tab Matchbook foldable

3 Types of Investigations

2EPISD Standard Based Curriculum

2015-2016

Label the Tabs

Descriptive Investigation

Comparative Investigation

Experimental Investigation

3 Types of Investigations

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EPISD MS Science Standard Based Curriculum 2015-2016

Descriptive Investigation•Involve collecting qualitative and/or quantitative data to draw conclusions about a natural or man-made system (e.g., rock formation, animal behavior, cloud, bicycle, electrical circuit).

• Includes a question, but no hypothesis.

• Observations are recorded, but no comparisons are made and no variables are manipulated.

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Comparative Investigation

•Involves collecting data on different organisms/objects/ features/events, or collecting data under different conditions (e.g., time of year, air temperature, location) to make a comparison.

• The hypothesis identifies one independent (manipulated) variable and one dependent (responding) variable.

•A fair test can be designed to measure variables so that the relationship between them is determined.

5EPISD MS Science Standard Based

Curriculum 2015-2016

Experimental Investigation

• Involve designing a fair test, similar to a comparative investigation, but a control is identified.

• The variables are measured in an effort to gather evidence to support or not support a relationship.

•This is often called a controlled experiment.



What type of Investigation is it?

Identify the type of investigation described and justify your choice.



_____________ Investigation

• You count how many prickly pear cacti are growing in a field and record the number of pads on each plant.




• You take two boxes of breakfast cereal, extract the iron from both boxes and look at the differences in iron content.




• Using the same model of piston, you test 4 different weights of oil to see which one will allow the piston to last the longest at 60 strokes a minute.

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•A new star is observed in the Andromeda Galaxy. Observations and data are collected on this new star.

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• Park rangers count the number of rattlesnakes observed along a specific trail at different times during the year. They use this information to let campers know when it is safer to go off the path.

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• You are testing how the diameter of a liquid splatter changes as you raise the height from which it is dropped.

EPISD MS Science Standard Based Curriculum 2015-2016 13

Introduction to the 3 types of Middle School Investigations

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