Middle School Science TAKS Review

1
Middle School Science TAKS Review

• Objective 1
• The Nature of Science

2
Scientific Method

• Scientific Inquiry
• Scientists ask questions about what they observe
  in the natural world.?Inquiry guides research
• Theory
• A possible explanation of observations and data,
  which is tested and revised.
• Experiments
• Tests a hypothesis in a controlled setting by
  changing a variable to see how it effects another
  variable.

3
Scientific Method Steps

• Question or Problem
• Research
• Hypothesis
• Experiment
• Analyze data
• Conclusion
• Application and Expansion

4
Important Terms

• Models
• A model is a diagram or object that represents
  something and shows how it works.
• Hypothesis
• Educated guess that tries to answer a question
  under investigation.
• Independent / Manipulated Variable
• A variable that is changed to find how that
  change affects other variables in the experiment.

5
Important Terms (continued)

• Dependent / Responding Variable
• A variable that is modified as the result of a
  change to an independent variable in the
  experiment.
• Control / Control Group
• The type of experimental setup without the
  independent variable.

6
Variables

• Constant / Controlled Variable
• The variable that remains the same in the
  experiment
• Doesnt change throughout experiment
• Variable
• Any factor that can be changed
• Review the Scientific Method

7
Use the Scientific Method to Explain this Diagram
8
Laboratory Field Experiments

• Equipment
• Provide precise measurements examples balance,
  meterstick, thermometer, graduated cylinder
• Lab Safety
• Always an important concern! Goggles, aprons,
  eye wash, gloves, fire extinguisher, fire
  blanket,
• Experimental Group vs. Control Group
• The control group is not subject to changes in
  the independent variable. Changes in the
  experimental group are contrasted with control
  group.