Scientific+Process+Assessment

[|expt_test_2010.doc] [|sci_process_rubric.pdf] [|Common Assessment Questions.doc] [|Common Assessment Questions.doc] 3/31/11 [|Common Assessment Questions.doc] given 2011 by all [|Common Assessment Data 2011.doc]


 * NOTE: Any answer in purple is what I have about what we discussed last year.**

One day Emily was hungry and decided to make a sandwich. Emily normally keeps her bread in a breadbox on the kitchen counter. As she opened the loaf of bread that was located on the kitchen counter, she noticed there was mold growing on the bread. Emily decided to set up an experiment. She got four Ziploc bags and put a slice of white bread in each one. She then placed each bag in a covered shoebox. She put one box in the freezer, one in the refrigerator, one by a heating vent, and one on the kitchen counter. None of the bread was exposed to light. She measured the temperature inside the boxes daily and recorded the number of mold spots she saw on each slice of bread. She did this for five days.

What question did Emily want to answer? Will temperature affect the amount of mold grown? Will different temperatures affect the amount of mold grown? Will the number of mold spots grown on a slice of bread vary in different temperatures? Correct answer must include the independent and dependent variables and the causal relationship between the two.

What is a possible hypothesis Emily could have? Temperature will/will not affect mold growth. (Variations of answers must include IV and DV for full credit and answer the question) More mold spots will grow in locations with warmer temperatures. Question will be restated including both IV and DV with relationship (adding will/will not).

Identify the following variables: Independent Variable: Temperature

Dependent Variable: amount of mold growth __//**Amount**//__ of mold growth or //possibly// **//__number__//** of mold spots. Number of mold spots on each slice of bread. Full Credit: Amount of mold spots, Number of mold spots

Half Credit: mold, how much mold growth

No Credit: amount, number, speed, growth, color

Constants/Controlled Variables: Same type of bread Same bag Same shoebox Same light exposure, same amount of light Same amount of time Same thermometer Same experimenter

Control Group: Bread on the counter

List all experimental groups (be specific): Bread in the freezer, bread in the refrigerator, bread by the heating vent

SpongeBob loves to garden and wants to grow pink flowers for his pal Sandy. He bought a special Flower Power fertilizer to see if it will help plants grow more pink flowers. He plants two plants of the same size in different containers with the same amount of potting soil. He places plant one in a sunny window and waters it every day with ½ cup of water that has fertilizer added. He places plant two in the same sunny window and waters it every two days with ½ cup of water with no fertilizer added.

What did SpongeBob do wrong in his experiment? (Changed too many variables and mention variable) (Changed too many variables) Did not control for watering the plants at similar times. He changed more than one variable. He watered the two plants on different days (every day/every two days) so his independent variable is not controlled. He watered one plant every day and the other plant every two days. He added another independent variable. (has more than one independent variable and should state which variable was incorrect)

Why is that not okay? (controlled experiment - two independent variables - SpongeBob did not make this a controlled experiment because he had two independent variables instead of one. To fix it he needs to water them the same amount each day. SpongeBob's experimental design has made it difficult to determine what variable had an influence (if any) in plant growth: Is it the different watering times (everyday vs. every two days) or is it the fertilizer (yes or no to the fertilizer)? He needs to conduct a controlled experiment and choose one variable to be the independent variable. If he is curious about the fertilizer's possible impact on plant growth, he needs to water the plants the same amount each day. SpongeBob did not control his experiment so he will not know whether it was the type of water or amount of watering that influenced flower production. You can only have one independent variable. SpongeBob wants to see if the fertilizer has any affect on the plant growth. He will not know if it was just the fertilizer that affected the plant or if it was the different watering pattern, or both. He should water both plants every day.

How can Spongebob fix the experiment?