Lesson 1 of 8 · Lab Skills
Lesson⭐ 30 XPVariables: Independent, Dependent and Control
Lab Skills.
🎯 Your mission
Understand the idea. Then look for it everywhere.
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
The independent variable is the one you deliberately change, the dependent variable is what you measure, and control variables are everything you deliberately hold constant. Change two things at once and no conclusion about cause is available.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Take three flawed investigation descriptions and, for each, identify the independent and dependent variables and list at least three control variables the experimenter failed to fix. Rewrite one as a valid method.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2The variable you measure is the:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
Ready?
Variables: Independent, Dependent and Control
Understand the idea. Then look for it everywhere.
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