SILO 3.3 (DRAFT)

Year 3, Term 3: Questioning and predicting

Focus: Hypotheses Scope and sequence: Probability, If-then statements, Hypotheses

Learning intention: Students plan and conduct scientific investigations to answer questions using representations of data.

NSW Syllabus
Australian Curriculum (version 9.0)
"A student questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations." (ST2-1WS-S)
"Students learn to pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations." (AC9S3I01)


Introduction to the topic

Tops and tails game

This game only requires two coins but it is also good to use music. The rules are as follows:


Probability

(Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_paper_scissors#/media/File:Rock-paper-scissors.svg)

The following diagram is based on the game rock, paper scissors.




Hypotheses

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation which can then be used for further investigation.

https://study.com/learn/lesson/hypothesis-examples.html

If-then statements

 'If-then' statements provide a useful structure for hypotheses. The following video (1:12) explains the connections between hypotheses, 'if-then' statements, and variables.

 

'If-then' statements are also used in coding where they can also be called 'conditional statements'. See SILO 3.4 'Coding' for examples of conditional statements.


Fair test challenge


Make an animation or slideshow using the following 10 statements for the voice-over script.

You can paraphrase or change the voice-over script but this should get you started.

  1. In scientific experiments a variable is something which can vary or change.
  2. A fair test is a controlled experiment involving an independent variable, a dependent variable and control variable(s).
  3. A way to remember the rules for a fair test is Cows Moo Softly. This means Change one thing, Measure one thing, and keep everything else the Same.
  4. The variable which we change is the independent variable because we choose to change it as the focus of an experiment.
  5. The variable which we measure is the dependent variable because it depends on the independent variable.
  6. Control variables need to kept the same to make it fair test.
  7. (Design a fair test.) For example, experimenting with the baking of bread could become a fair test by making changes to the proportions or process.
  8. (Write instructions with clearly defined variables.) This experiment…
  9. A hypothesis in a fair test can link the ‘if’ with the independent variable and the ‘then’ with the dependent variable.
  10. A hypothesis isn't about being right or wrong but about proof and falsification.

A PowerPoint file containing the voice-over scripts is available here.


A nervous experiment

This activity is suited to student working in pairs.


© Arizona Board of Regents / ASU Ask A Biologist.(https://askabiologist.asu.edu/experiments/nerves)

What you need for each pair of students:


© Arizona Board of Regents / ASU Ask A Biologist

The table above will only have the numbers 1 or 2 depending on whether the students can distinguish between 1 or 2 prongs from the paperclip. Is there any reason to average this data?


Types of inquiry 


https://www.sciencebydoing.edu.au/pre-2022-curriculum-unit-files



 

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