Inquiry on animals process handouts and notes

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process

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Introduction to Inquiry Activity

In today’s class you will begin to learn (more about?) the inquiry

process.

More specifically, you will focus on the first 2 stages: asking

questions and making predictions

Hopefully, you will have fun learn in the process too!

Activity Overview-

There are 2 similar activities to do below

Both activities involve the same material: a special cube

Work with your group to answer / work through all questions for both parts

Be ready to share your answers at the end of the activity with the whole class!

Activity 1 – What is the number in the upper-right corner of the bottom side?

1. Write your activity’s question on the space below. (Just copy the question above!)

Inquiry Question - ______________________________________________________?

2. How can you answer this question? Is it possible to find an answer?

Now, talk with your group about HOW to get an answer to your question. Be sure to share many

ideas even ones that seem silly. Also, write down all your ideas in the box below:

Your teacher may also give you some ideas or hints too as the class progresses. Be ready for

them!

Our Ideas on Finding an Answer to Our Inquiry Question

3. Last, use your ideas to predict an answer to your inquiry question.

Our Prediction (The Answer We Guess to Be True!) :

We think the number in the upper-right corner on the bottom side is _______ because _____________________________________________________________.

** Be ready to discuss your prediction with the class!

Activity 2 – What is the name on the bottom side?

1. Write your activity’s question again on the space below. (Just copy the question above!)

Inquiry Question - ______________________________________________________?

2. How can you answer this question? Is it possible to find an answer?

Now, talk with your group about HOW to get an answer to your question. Be sure to share many

ideas even ones that seem silly. Also, write down all your ideas in the box below:

Your teacher may also give you some ideas or hints too as the class progresses. Be ready for

them!

Our Ideas on Finding an Answer to Our Inquiry Question

3. Last, use your ideas to predict an answer to your inquiry question.

Our Prediction (The Answer We Guess to Be True!) :

We think the name on the bottom side is _______ because ____________ _______________________________________________________________.

** Be ready to discuss your prediction with the class!

The Inquiry Process – Stage 1 Exploring a Question

What is it? “Exploring a Question” is often (but not always) the beginning of an inquiry process

There are two main steps: 1. A person poses (asks) real questions about something they do not understand. 2. A person finds resources (information) to answer his/her question(s) ALSO NOTE: The order for these 2 steps does not matter. Sometimes, you may have a question and then you look for an answer. At other times, you may first learn about something and then have a question after learning. Then, you simply find other resources to learn more!

What kind of questions can I ask? Anything! This is science! You may ask about anything you

wish! But remember, finding an answer may not always be possible.

What kind of resources can I use? There are various types of resources to use. For instance:

1. Read a book 2. Search the Internet 3. Use a computer program like a simulation 4. Ask somebody such as your teacher, your parent or even your

classmate. ** Also, remember! Not everything you read or hear is always true. It is important to be critical of your resources too!

STAGE 1

Exploring a

Question

Guided Exercises for Making Predictions and Hypothesis (for the topic of Animals)

Part 1 –

i) Pick out and write the independent variable and dependent variable for each scientific prediction given in the below on the first two blanks.

ii) Write the hypothesis (the second sentence) on the third blank.

1. I think light is related to worm movement. Therefore, if I shine a light on worms for a while, they will soon move underground.

This is because the worm’s favourite habitat (place to live) is underground where there is a lot of soil and it is also dark usually. So if there is especially a lot of light, the worm will be more “worried” that it is not in its usual dark home (underground) and will try to move there. Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ (Hint- starts with L) Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ (Hint- 2 words) Hypothesis - _______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

2. I think the sweetness is related to ant’s eating habits. Therefore, if I put certain foods such as sugar, candy or chocolate in my ant farm, more ants will react quickly to consume the food than other kinds of food like salty foods.

This happens because sweet foods contain sugar and ants need a lot of sugar to survive and perform their daily activities. Baby ants also require a lot of sugar to develop and so worker ants are more motivated to get sugar and later give it to the baby ants. Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ (Hint- starts with S) Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ (Hint- 2 words) Hypothesis - _______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

3. I believe the time of day is NOT directly connected to the amount of hamster activity. It think just the amount of light determines. So, if cover a hamster cage even during a bright sunny cage, the hamsters will sleep most of the time and less active in general.

This is hamsters are not smart enough to tell the time. Their brains are too small. However, their eyes have special receptors that can detect the amount of sunlight. So I think this detection of light allows hamsters to determine when to play and be active and when to sleep and be less active. Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ (Hint- t_ o_ d_) Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ (Hint- 2 words) Hypothesis - _______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Part 2 –

i) Pick out and write the independent variable and dependent variable for each simple prediction given in the below on the first two blanks.

ii) Then, reword the prediction by adding sentences or changing words to make it a proper scientific prediction. (See Part 1 for good examples of a scientific prediction or today’s note)

iii) Write a possible hypothesis of your own on the last blank. (Just try your best!) ** More than one correct answer is possible!

1. If there are more bright flowers than dull flowers in my greenhouse garden, the garden will grow better than if there is less bright flowers and more dull flowers. Many bugs are attracted to bright flowers and they can move pollen around when they come and visit a flower. The greater spreading of pollen will help to ensure more bright flowers will grow.

Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ (Hint- starts with B) Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ (Hint- G… G… !) My Scientific Prediction - ______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

2. So, if I give my sister to a Julia Monster, she will be eaten by it. But it won’t eat my brother. This is because Julia Monsters like to eat tastier girls than yucky boys!

Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ (Hint- starts with G) Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ (Hint- You try!)

My Scientific Prediction - ______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Part 3 –

i) Look at the idea for doing any inquiry. ii) Decide yourself a possible independent and dependent variable that you could use to make a

prediction. iii) Then write a proper scientific prediction and hypothesis on the lines provided.

** Multiple correct answers are possible!

1. Showing different clothing colours to attract moths….. (hint… clothing colour and ….) Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ My Scientific Prediction - ______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

2. Playing different types of music to chickens sitting on eggs … (hint… and egg hatching) Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ My Scientific Prediction - ______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Converting Basic Life Science Predictions to Scientific Predictions (with Hypothesis)

For each of the following basic predictions:

i) Write a possible independent variable and a possible dependent variable ii) Write a proper scientific prediction. iii) Write a possible hypothesis

01. Worms come out of the soil after a rainfall. 02. Mosquitos bite in the dark, as well as in the light. 03. Cats purr. 04. Ants can find their way 'home'. 05. Some people can eat large amounts of food and never gain weight. 06. Many young (and not-so-young!) people listen to loud music through headphones. 07. People who smoke often have yellow fingers. 08. Men tend to be stronger than women. 09. There is lots of noise near an airport. 10. Many teenagers spend more time watching T.V. than they spend doing anything else (when not sleeping). 11. Many wild animals are kept in captivity in zoos all around the world. 12. Many or most store-bought foods have chemicals added to them. These chemicals are supposed to preserve the food, change its colour and/or texture and give the food certain flavours. 13. Plants will normally try to grow towards the sky. 14. Fish gill flaps (operculae) open and close as the fish swims about. 15. When one person yawns, people around him or her soon also yawn (ahh!). 16. Many people listen to music while working on something else. 17. Many students watch T.V. while doing homework. 18. Many people drink softdrinks which contain the sweetener 'aspartame'. 19. Many people often get 'hiccups'. 20. Many people, especially adults, drink coffee. 21. Many people, especially adults, drink tea. 22. Many adults drink alcohol-containing beverages. 23. Many people need a certain amount of sleep each night in order to feel well the next day. 24. Most seeds germinate (develop into plants) very well in the dark. 25. Yeast (a living thing) changes sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide gas when placed in a sugar/water solution. 26. Cactus plants can live without water for a long time. 27. Venus Fly Trap plants are green (suggesting that they make their own food), but still have to eat food (usually insects). 28. Some people have a big problem with dandruff. 29. Some people talk, sing, etc. to their plants. 30. Many people find praying to be very relaxing.

The Inquiry Process – Stage _____ ____________________________________ Overview- You have explored a question and you now have a prediction and hypothesis. Now, it is time to test (prove) your prediction and hypothesis. How can you do that? You need to make a procedure. What is an inquiry procedure- An inquiry procedure is a written plan that you make (and later follow) to test out a prediction and hypothesis. Procedure Parts- there are 4 main sections in an inquiry procedure. Section 1 _____________________- in this section, you write your prediction and hypothesis. Section 2 ______________________- in this section, you make a list of the materials you will need to carry out your procedure. Section 3 ______________________- in this section, you write a list of steps to follow to test your prediction and hypothesis. Section 4 __________________________- Here, you create charts or diagrams to help you make observations when you follow your directions later. Other Important Elements- 1. A procedure should have a _________. A chart should have a

________.

2. The procedure steps should be ___________________ in the right order. 3 .Charts should allow you to record multiple _____________ (see ** below)

** What is a trial? A trial is a repeat of the inquiry’s experiment (or other). When you do the

experiment, you should (almost) never do the experiment only one time. You should do it MANY times. And you should record your results for EACH and EVERY trial (ie. Each and every time) So, be careful when you make your chart. There should be spaces to write down your observations for 3 or more (normally) repeats of the experiment you are going to do.

Example Procedure What Makes a Paper Helicopter Drop Faster? Title In this inquiry, we will try to find out how to make a helicopter drop faster. We think we can increase the dropping speed by decreasing the blade length. Purpose Paper helicopters with shorter blades should drop faster because there is less drag. (air resistance) Materials

1. 3 paper helicopter pattern papers 2. scissors Materials 3. 3 paper clips 4. Watch or clock

Directions

1. Cut out each helicopter by cutting along the solid lines using the scissors 2. Fold the flaps back along the dotted lines for each helicopter. 3. Add a paper clip to the bottom of each helicopter. 4. Label the helicopters: 1, 2 and 3. Directions 5. Cut 1 cm off of both blades for helicopter 2. 6. Cut 2 cm off of both blades for helicopter 3. 7. Drop each helicopter 3 times. Time how long it takes a helicopter to drop. 8. Record the times in the chart provided.

Time Versus Helicopter Blade Length

Time Trial Helicopter 1’s time

Helicopter 2’s time

Helicopter 3’s time

1

2

3

Chart

Formal (Guided) Inquiry 1 – What I Wonder About Worms– Day 1 Overview – Today, you will begin your first formal inquiry on worms!

- Actually, you will only complete the first 4 stages of the inquiry process but you will go through them like real scientists (Just you will not continue after stage 4)

- And you will be guided through the stages to ensure you understand better - Also note, that you will rewrite this inquiry a second time and your second

draft will be graded so try your best Inquiry 1 Topic(Starting Question)–What are some Interesting Things about Worms? Stage 1 – Exploring a Question

Copy your topic’s inquiry question (What are some Interesting Things about Worms?) on the first line in the box below

After, write down some general information that you have learned so far about your topic (You can write almost anything you want on your topic. Look at your notes, textbook or internet sites too and try to write a small background paragraph in the rest of the box ) Stage 2 – Making a (Scientific!) Prediction

Now you should write a prediction about a more specific inquiry focus for your inquiry’s question For this guided inquiry, the particular topic has been chosen for you below. Just check the box

you like below to give your agreement and show your understanding Last, make a proper scientific prediction relating to your particular topic* *

Remember to include: an independent and dependent variable Also, remember to write a two-part sentence where you first show the relationship between your

variables and then you make your guess Last, (if you can) try to write an explanation for making your guess using “science”. This is you

hypothesis

Inquiry Topic: __________________________________________________________ ?

General Information: ______________________________________________________

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Stage 3 – Creating the Procedure

Finally, for Day 1 of your first formal inquiry, you need to write down HOW you will test your prediction.

In other words, you cannot just start using your materials, you have to first formally explain step by step what you plan on doing

Also, remember one of your steps will require you make a chart to record your observations later. Make the chart now BUT DO NOT FILL IT IN NOW. (You will do that later in stage 4)

To make your procedure, use the following headings below but write your procedure on separate A4 paper and attach. My Inquiry’s Materials- My Inquiry’s Procedural Steps- My Observation Chart –

This is all you need to do for now (Day 1). Remember, you will continue the inquiry in the next class. BE PREPARED! CHECK WITH

TEACHER FOR NEEDED MATERIALS OR BRING THEM YOURSELF! Also remember, you will receive a mark for this inquiry!

Specific Inquiry Focus: Now, I wonder more …- how worms behave ____ (check one) …- what worms do____ … - if worms have _______ inside them ___ … - ________________________ ___ My Scientific Prediction:

Here is now what I want to more specifically check out more. I think there is a connection between ___________________ (write variable 1) and __________________ (write variable 2).

So, _____________________________________________________________________

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My Hypothesis:

__________________________________________________________________________

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The Inquiry Process – __________ ________________________________

___________________________- You now have a prediction and hypothesis. As

well, you made a procedure to test your predication and hypothesis. Now, you are ready to experiment. You will follow your procedure and make observations. In the end, you find out if your prediction is true or not. This is Stage 4: Conducting the Procedure.

______________________________? It’s very simple.

1. Just get your materials and follow your procedure steps! 2. Do the experiment or activity. 3. Make observations. 4. Find out if your prediction was correct.

….Also,, there are few other things to remember when conducting a procedure….

1. ______________________! Remember, when you conduct your procedure, you have to

write down what you see. Already, you should made a chart. Remember, to USE your chart!

2. ___________________________! Repeating is VERY IMPORTANT!! Also, remember to

do the same procedure again and again! Also, write down the results for each repeat. We call the repeat a trial.

3. _______________________________________________! Sometimes, your

procedure might have a problem. Sometimes, you might forget a step to do. Also, you might discover a better way. So… change!! You can re-write and re-do your procedure anytime. In fact, all scientists do this. Practice makes perfect!

Ah! You mean experimenting!

The Inquiry Process – Stage _______

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Overview- What did you do so far in the inquiry? What was your question? What did you predict?

What happened in your experiment? Were you right? What does it mean? Wow! All these questions to answer! This is Stage 5. Here, you reflect (review) what you have done. AND you try to understand and explain what you discovered. (ie. you analyze your results!

How to Analyze the Results- This step is a __________________ step. The experiment is done.

Here you sit down by yourself and think about your inquiry. Or perhaps you might discuss what you did with someone else. But most importantly, you need to write

1. A short ____________ of the first 2 earlier stages of your inquiry 2. Your ________________ of the results

Part 1 – _________________________________- in this part you should do two things:

1. Re-write your question and possibly some of your background information that was useful in exploring your question.

2. Re-write your prediction and hypothesis

Example: Stage 5 – Part 1 – Reviewing

I wanted to learn how to make a plant grow better.

I learned before, plants need the sun, water and 1. ____________________

nutrients in the soil to make their sugars. (+ background re-write

But what about giving a plant something unusual? if helpful or necessary)

Indeed, I think there is a connection between a plant’s

growth and certain liquids that they take in from the soil. 2. ____________

Some may be better than just water. More specifically, I and ___________

think that watering a plant with tea will make it grow faster _____________

than just using water because tea has both water and nutrients

in it. Plants can receive two important things at the same time.

Part 2 – ___________________________________- in this part you should do two things:

1. Compare your results to your prediction

2. Discuss the comparison (tell if the results match the prediction or not. Then, try to tell why or why

not. Also, if possible, make a conclusion OR explain why you cannot conclude. You may need to

discuss errors if you cannot conclude something.)

Example: Stage 5 – Part 2 – Explaining the Results Stage 5 – Part 2 – Explaining the Results

I watered three plants with water every day. I watered another

three plants with tea every day. I recorded the plants’ rate of 1. ___________

growth. I discovered something after 2 weeks. The plants given

water all actually grew more than the plants given tea. But I

had thought the tea would make them grow better.

My prediction was wrong. I do not understand why. Maybe, tea

contains some other harmful things that plants do not like.

Next time, I will try to use a mixture of water and real soil 2. ____________

nutrients instead of tea. Then, maybe, my plants will grow faster

with this mixture than with just water.

Inquiry on Worms- Stage 5 Analyzing The Results

Directions- 1. ALONE- Complete ALL of the “My First Writing” boxes below by yourself

2. PAIR- Share your writing with someone. Then, make your writing better if possible by adding or changing ideas..

3. RE –WRITE – After sharing, re-write all your paragraphs together on one A4 page.

Stage 5 – Part 1 – Reviewing

1. Question and Background Re-write (Rewrite your inquiry’s question. From STAGE 1!

You may also wish to rewrite some of your background information too) Write 1 or more

sentences

2. Prediction and Hypothesis (Look at your Stage 2 section. Which prediction did you

choose? Write it! Write your hypothesis too!) 2-3 sentences

Stage 5 – Part 2 – Discussing the Results

3. Compare (Look at your results from Stage 4. Explain them below. Then, compare them

with your prediction. Ie. Are they the same or different?) 4-8 sentences

4. Discuss (Evaluate your content in the above box. If your results and prediction are the

same, try to make a conclusion. If no, explain why and discuss possible problems. Add

other relevant ideas too) 4-8 sentences

** REMEMBER- After writing you must do two more things:1. Have someone check your writing.

2. Write it again on A4 paper

The Inquiry Process – _____________________

_______________________________________

Overview- In Stage 5, you analyzed your results. Now, it is time to connect your results to other

things.

Applying means _____________________ what your learned to the _________________. (For example: society, the environment, your school, businesses…etc) In other words, you look at your results and analysis information again. Then, you connect that information to something ________________ of your inquiry.

You could even make a _______________________ about something but do not always have to or are you always able to.

_________________________? This is another WRITING step. And you need to relate your

inquiry to something else. Follow the steps below.

1. Sit down by yourself and think carefully about your results and also your analysis. (Stage 4

and 5) OR you could talk with someone else about them.

When thinking or talking, consider the following questions:

1) If your prediction was __________________ ….

Connect to a better inquiry… ie. How could you make your inquiry even better?

Connect to a similar inquiry … ie. What would be another good inquiry to further test your results more? (ex. Pretend your inquiry was about paper airplanes. You could do future inquiry on model airplanes)

Connect to a similar process, action or event in the real world…. ie. Can you write about something that happens in the real world that is similar to your inquiry? (ex. You found out that narrow paper airplanes fly better. You might suggest real airplanes should be narrow too because …)

Connect to targets of influence… ie. How does your inquiry affect people, nature, events, school, work etc? (ex. You found out that narrow paper airplanes fly better. You might suggest children should make very narrow airplanes when competing in a paper airplane contest)

Connect to a real issue or problem… ie. Can you tell or suggest how something you learned in your inquiry could important for understanding or even solving some issue that is very important in people’s lives.

(ex. You found out that narrow paper airplanes fly better. You realize too that narrower planes use less material. You might suggest that companies make their planes narrower to conserve metal and other resources. We don’t have a lot of metal left as well as other resources in the world. This is a big issue…)

2) If your prediction was _______________ or there was some ______________ your

inquiry’s procedure

Connect to a better inquiry…ie. What kind of future inquiry could you do to explain what might have happened? (Ex. All your plants died quickly when you gave them tea but not water. You might do an inquiry to find what ingredients are in tea. There may be something harmful that you didn’t know)

Connect to a similar inquiry ….What kind of similar future inquiry could you do to double check your prediction? (Ex. You found out your plants did not grow better with your tea than with water. You might try doing a future inquiry with a different kind of tea or a different kind of plant)

Connect to better procedure…ie. How could you change your procedure to better test your prediction? (ex. Your plants died after three days. You think it was because your room has no window to allow sunlight in. You could suggest doing the inquiry again in another room with a big window)

Connect to targets of influence… ie. How does your inquiry affect people, nature, events, school, work etc? (ex. Despite problems or surprises with your results, you can still suggest with good evidence tea is not good for plants. You might suggest people should not drink tea near plants. They might accidentally spill tea on them)

Connect to a real issue or problem… ie. Can you tell or suggest how something you learned in your inquiry could important for understanding or even solving some issue that is very important in people’s lives. (ex. Even though your results were better, your inquiry still shows that working plants is harder than people may think. People think plants are easy things to look after or take care of but you have learned people should find out more before getting a plant as they might experience problems like you did.)

2. __________________! Write a nice paragraph. Answer some of the questions above in your paragraph. Add

other ideas too!

3. ___________________ and ________________! Review your paragraph or better have someone else look over to find mistakes, give concerns and provide other valuable feedback. Then rewrite your paragraph better after making any corrections, additions and/or other productive changes.

Sample Application Paragraph

In our experiment, we predicted that narrower airplanes would move faster through

the air then wider airplanes because there is less drag (less air resistance). We were

right. We wonder if this is true for other kinds of flying objects. We would like to do

another inquiry with paper helicopters. We will test if narrower paper helicopters also

move faster through the air than wider paper helicopters. The same might be true for

size as well. In another future inquiry, we would like to find out if longer paper airplanes

move faster than shorter paper airplanes. Our inquiry findings suggest that real airplane

manufacturers should make airplanes that are very narrow because like paper airplanes

real airplanes also encounter drag. So, if they are narrow, there should be less drag and

they will fly better. We would also like to do our inquiry one more time. It was very windy

on the day that we followed our procedure. The wind may have affected our results. We

would like to do the inquiry again on a day that is not very windy.

Stage 6 – Applying the Inquiry

Directions- 1. Write an application paragraph about your __________________________ Answer questions given in your help handout on The Inquiry Process Stage 6 You may use other ideas too. 2. After, you will need to ask a classmate or teacher to read your paragraph and give you feedback. Then you must rewrite the paragraph after ____________________________________________________

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(Remember to Re-Write)