On the last quiz, I asked a question that was more challenging than usual. I asked everyone to provide a focus question, a prediction, and the samples they would test for an investigation about digestion in the mouth, using a strange food.It was a confusing question with an even more confusing organizer for your answers. Most people struggled with this part of the quiz. After talking to Ms. Katherine about it, we decided to redo the question and have everyone retake the question through an activity in class. I have the worksheet and the activity cards linked below if you would like to practice your skills with experimental design.
Experimental Design Challenge Cards
Experimental Design Worksheet
I turned the activity into a bit of a competition, with prizes going to the table with the most complete answers on the challenge questions. Each person received a different card. On the front side was a Practice question. This question was essentially the same for all the cards. It presented a scenario, and asked the student to identify the independent variable (or the manipulated variable), the dependent variable (or the responding variable), at least two control variables, and then asked for a brief description of the investigation that might be made in this scenario.
After working independently, students compared their answers with others at their table. They wrote down the answers their teammates generated, and also took the opportunity to help each other provide correct, complete answers. The groups then flipped the cards over and reviewed the Challenge questions. Each table could work together to answer the Challenge questions – one at a time, in whatever order they chose. The team that was able to provide the most correct, complete information by the end of the period (written on each team member's worksheet) won a prize.
I hope that everyone found the activity helpful! The front of the worksheet counted toward the quiz question retake, and the back side counted toward the competition.
