SC.5.N.1.1 Scientific Investigation

A prediction (hypothesis) must be testable. Which prediction (hypothesis) is testable?

• Blue is the best color.

• Summer is nicer than fall.

• Dogs are better than cats.

• A beagle can jump higher than a Persian cat.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

Which one of the questions below is a Testable Question?

• What is gravity?

• How many stars are in the sky?

• Why does the Earth orbit the Sun?

• What color candle burns the fastest?

Jasmine found a duck’s nest near the bushes beside the lake at the park on a Saturday. Jasmine wondered how long it will take for the eggs to hatch into ducklings.

What would be the BEST plan for Jasmine to use to find out the answer to her question?

• Observe the nest the following Saturday.

• Observe the nest once a day for a week.

• Observe the nest twice a day for a week.

• Observe the nest every day until the eggs hatch.

This map was made on Tuesday.

What are meteorologists doing when they create storm tracks such as this one?

• Predicting

• Testing their ideas

• Explaining how a hurricane develops

• Gathering information to determine the strength of a hurricane

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

Researchers at Florida International University surveyed people to find out how many would not evacuate if a hurricane were approaching.

In 1992, 18% would not evacuate. In 1999, 46% said they would not evacuate. How can scientists use this information?

• To predict where people go when they evacuate

• To explain why people choose not to evacuate

• To predict how many people will not evacuate

• To predict which route people will use to evacuate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

The class is working with classes in other schools in Jacksonville to investigate the amount of rainfall in different parts of the city. Each class has the same type of rain gauge and the same type of data chart to use to record the rainfall each day.

What is another important step for all the classes to include in their procedure?

• Put the rain gauge in a grassy area at each school.

• Use the same color pen to record the rainfall data.

• Put the rain gauge next to the building at each school.

• Use the same schedule for measuring the amount of rainfall.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Alexander has a new type of liquid fertilizer for his house plants. He wonders what solution of fertilizer and water will make his plants grow the tallest?

What is the best way to investigate the question?

• look in his gardening books

• interview the local nursery owner

• take a survey of people coming out of the nursery

• do an experiment with different amounts of fertilizer solutions

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

Jane is investigating to find out if bean plants grow taller in ordinary topsoil or special potting soil over a three week period. She sets up her investigation with 10 bean plants of equal size in each type of soil.

What should Jane do each day to make sure she gets valid results?

• Water only the plants in special potting soil.

• Calculate the average plant height for each soil type.

• Move the plants in ordinary topsoil to different locations.

• Estimate the height of each plant's stem and record the estimate.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

Sonya wanted to know if mowing affects the health of grass during a drought. To find out, she collected data on how often her neighbors mowed their grass.

Based on the information she collected, what is the BEST next step?

• Report her findings to her neighbors.

• Develop a plan to save everyone's lawns.

• Stop her neighbors from mowing their lawns.

• Find out if other things might be affecting the grass.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Thomas and Julie wanted to find out which material would insulate their teacher's coffee cup and keep the coffee hot for the longest period of time. They first wrapped her cup with bubble wrap and recorded the temperature of the coffee once every 15 minutes for 2 hours. They repeated the investigation, this time using newspaper instead of bubble wrap, but they got the same results for both materials.

What could they do to make sure their results are valid?

• Repeat their experiment.

• Use tea instead of coffee.

• Use a different thermometer.

• Conduct their investigation in a colder room.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-4