Planning an Individual Controlled Investigation
| Grade | Work Samples |
|---|---|
| End of Stage 5 (end of Year 10) | |
| Grade B | Lindsay |
| Grade C | Riley Jamie Courtney |
| Grade D | Indra Taylor |
Description of activity
Students use their previous experience in planning investigations to design a valid test for a question relating to the effect on the growth of strawberry plants when the soil is at two different temperatures (eg 10°C and 20°C). This is an individual activity in which students are challenged to extend their problem-solving and working-scientifically skills through planning a valid first-hand investigation to test the question they identify, and to collect and record reliable data.
Context
Throughout Stage 4 students have developed and extended their understanding of the nature and practice of science through designing and performing safe first-hand experiences to test the questions being investigated.
In Stage 4 they have planned and performed a group student research project. In the Year 8 unit Plants, students gained an understanding of the requirements of plants for growth.
This activity could be used to identify students' prior understanding of designing controlled experiments in preparation for the Stage 5 Individual Student Research Project. Students individually plan a controlled investigation to test the idea that different temperature conditions affect the growth of strawberry plants. They will identify the question (hypothesis) to be tested, describe in the procedure to be used to test the question how variables will be controlled and reliable data will be collected and recorded. They will also select appropriate equipment including safety equipment.
Areas for Assessment
Outcomes
A student:
5.13 identifies a problem and independently produces an appropriate investigation plan
5.21 uses creativity and imagination in the analysis of problems and the development of possible solutions
5.22 plans, implements and evaluates the effectiveness of a variety of tasks independently and as a team member
Criteria for assessing learning
(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)
Students will be assessed on their ability to:
- define the question to be tested
- select appropriate equipment/resources, including safety equipment
- describe a valid procedure for a controlled experiment to test the identified idea
- describe a method for collecting and recording reliable data.