Dear Class 711, 714, 715, and 716,

Below is a description of your holiday homework.

A complete lab report on YOUR scientific investigation: 

• Build your lab report upon the template shared with you on Google Drive (Ms. Shon's Lab Report Template).
• Include a title, introduction, problem/question, experimental variables, hypothesis, materials list, experimental procedure, results (data table + bar graph), conclusion, and references.
• Share your lab report with ms.shon@ms88.org (if you haven't already done so).
• Use only Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial Font.
• Use only font size 10-12.
• Use double spaces between sections (title, question, hypothesis, experimental variables, etc.), and single spaces within the same section.
• Use "Ms. Shon's Bar Graph Template" shared with you on Google Drive to create (and insert) a bar graph electronically.  You can also hand-draw your bar graph.
• Avoid personal pronouns (“I”, “we”, “you”).

A complete power point presentation on YOUR scientific investigation:

• Build your power point upon on the template shared with you on Google Drive (Ms. Shon's Power Point Template).
• Include a slide for each of the following components: title, introduction, problem/question, experimental variables, hypothesis, materials list, experimental procedure, results (data table + bar graph), conclusion, and references.
• Feel free to use images, but make sure to credit the source in the reference slide.
• Feel free to use different fonts, colors, and font sizes, but keep it professional!
• Share your power point with ms.shon@ms88.org (if you haven't already done so).

If you need help writing a specific part of the lab report, make sure to consult shonscience.com.  There is blog post on writing pretty much every component excluding the introduction.

I hope you all have a restful and FUN break!  Make sure to contact me (ms.shon@ms88.org) if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Ms. Shon

Limitations are parts of an experiment that keep the scientist from producing fair and reliable data. Even a very well planned out experimental procedure can lead to "mistakes" and produce less than perfect data.  As scientists, it is important that upon completing an experiment, that we reflect on all possible limitations that may have influenced our data.  These limitations should be included in the scientist's conclusion.

Below are the four categories of possible limitations in science that can keep the scientist from producing "perfect" data:

1. Independent Variable: Every experiment should only have one independent variable.  If there is more than one independent variable (part changed by the scientist), then it will be impossible to determine what effects were caused by a particular change.
2. Multiple Trials: Repeating a science experiment is an important step to verify that your results are fair and not just an accident.  For a typical controlled experiment, you should have at least 3 repeated trials (more is better).
3. Human Error: Experimental error is always possible as human beings.  Any time we make a qualitative or quantitative observation, there is a degree of uncertainty.   This may be due to pre-existing limitations in the measuring equipment (ex: broken thermometer), or of the measuring techniques, or perhaps the experience and skill of the experimenter.
4. Constants: Every experiment should have as many constants as possible.  Constants are parts of the experiment that a scientist keeps the same to insure that the only part of the experiment affecting the results is the independent variable (the part changed by the scientist).

Assignment:
Identify one type of limitation in each experiment (questions 1-3) that you think will most affect the reliability of the data. Make sure to explain why you chose the particular limitation.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO WRITE THE QUESTIONS.

1.  Ashik filled 3 pots with EcoScraps soil and labeled them A, B, and C.  He then placed 1 radish seed in the middle of each pot.  Ted added 1 teaspoon of fertilizer to pot A, put 2 teaspoons in pot B, and no fertilizer in pot C.  After using a different amount of fertilizer in each pot, he placed pot A on a sunny windowsill, pot B on a shady windowsill, and pot C in a dark closet.  Ashik watered each plant with a ½ a cup of water every day. As he measured each plant throughout the month, Ashik wrote the height of the plant (in centimeters) in his data table for trial one.  Ashik repeated the same experiment for trial 2 and trial 3.  Identify one limitation in Ashik's experiment.

2.  Paula wanted to find out if the type of soda (diet coke vs. regular coke) affected the time it takes to "go flat" (lose carbonation). She figured the best way to determine when the soda went flat was by tasting the sodas every 30 minutes.  For each trial, Paula set a timer for 30 minutes, then tasted the diet coke first, immediately followed by the regular coke.  She recorded whether or not the soda was flat after each taste test.  She performed a total of 5 trials.  Identify one limitation in Paula's experiment.

3.  Rashonne wanted to find out what color Crayola marker (red, yellow, green, orange, blue, purple) dries out the fastest.  She purchased one box of markers and set out all 6 colors on a flat surface in the same location with the same temperature, where each marker received an equal amount of sunlight. She removed the caps and checked them twice a day to record the time for each marker to dry.  Identify one limitation in Rashonne's experiment.

4.  True or False: "If a procedure is very well planned out, then there will be no mistakes in the data."  Explain your choice.

An experimental procedure is a detailed, step-by-step "recipe" for conducting a scientific investigation. A strong experimental procedure is so detailed and complete that any other scientist can replicate the experiment and results.  

Each time an experiment is repeated is called a trial.  In order to gather reliable, fair data from experimentation, we must always perform multiple trials (at least 3) for every experiment.  

If you have struggled to write a strong experimental procedure, you are not alone.  Writing a procedure for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or drawing a simple smiley face can even be tricky! 

Check out Ms. Shon's "Pocket Guide for Writing a Procedure" to help you edit your procedure to make sure that any other scientist is able to replicate your experiment and results. 

Ms. Shon's Pocket Guide for Writing a Procedure
When writing a procedure, you should....

• Number steps
• Start each step with a verb (action word - list of examples follow)
• Include only ONE action in each step
• Include measurements (size, how much, how far, how many, etc.)
• Use pictures and labels for hard to explain parts
• Use the present tense (fill, place, measure, pour, etc.)
• Avoid transitional words or phrases (next, finally, in addition to, therefore, however, etc.)

Variety of Verbs
Pull from the list of verbs below to improve your experimental procedure!

• Gather
• Label
• Measure
• Observe
• Count
• Determine
• Calculate
• Average
• Clean
• Record
• Throw out
• Cut
• Lift
• Listen
• Repeat

Homework: 
Due Tuesday, December 17, 2013.
1.  Copy Ms. Shon's pocket guide for writing a procedure in your science notebook.
2.  Edit your experimental procedure using the guide (SNVP) above.  Write them in your science notebook. 

Review for Quiz #2 by playing Jeopardy.  Click the link to begin: Quiz #2 Review Jeopardy

Answer the questions below to review for the quiz on Friday (December 6, 2013).  If you can answer the questions in your own words (without copying a definition), you are probably in great shape.  Feel free to use your notes, neighbors, and past blog posts to help you prepare.  Focus on the following blog posts to help you review: Parts of a Controlled Experiment, Scientific Questions = Testable Questions, What is a Hypothesis?, Writing a Hypothesis, Types of Scientific Investigations.

Controlled Experiments
1.       What is a controlled experiment?
2.       What is an independent variable?
3.       Why is there only one independent variable in every controlled experiment?
4.       What is a dependent variable?
5.       What are constants?
6.       Do all experiments have control groups?  Explain.

Testable Question
1.       What is a testable question?
2.       What must be in every testable question?
3.       Write 2 testable question formats.

Hypothesis
1.       What is a hypothesis?
2.       What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory?
3.       Write the format for writing a hypothesis.

Experimental Procedures
1.       Why is it important to be specific when writing your experimental procedures?
2.       Should any scientist be able to repeat an experimental procedure and get the same results?  Explain.
3.       How is sketching/drawing out the steps in your experimental procedure helpful?  Explain.

Types of Scientific Investigations
1.       What is a field investigation?
2.       What is a secondary research investigation?
3.       What is a design investigation?
4.       What type of investigation are we designing in science class?