7

Science
Module: The
Scientific Investigation

https://e7.pngegg.com/pngimages/551/93/png-clipart-technology-themed-educational-illustration-science-book-laboratory-chemistry-school-kids-child-reading.png

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

 Define Scientific Investigation

 Identify and explain the components of scientific investigation
 Communicate scientific findings effectively.

Instructional Materials
PowerPoint presentation, science notebooks, worksheets , a computer and a projector

Steps to follow
Review the Scientific Method
Familiarize yourself with the steps of the scientific method, which include identifying a
problem, conducting background research, formulating a hypothesis, designing an experiment,
collecting data, analyzing results, and communicating findings.
Write Important Notes
Take notes on each step of the scientific method. Include definitions and explanations for terms
like hypothesis, variables, and conclusions. Note how each step contributes to the overall process of
scientific inquiry and how it helps in understanding the world.
Understand Key Concepts in Investigation
Learn about important concepts related to scientific investigation:
 Variables:
Independent Variable: The variable that is changed in the experiment.
Dependent Variable: The variable that is measured or observed.
Control Variables: Factors that are kept constant to ensure a fair test.
 Data Collection Methods: Familiarize yourself with various methods for collecting
data, including experiments, surveys, and observations.

Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions Understand how to analyze the data you collect. Learn
how to create graphs and charts to visualize results. Know how to interpret the data to draw
conclusions about your hypothesis and what the results mean in the context of your research
question.
Communicate Your Findings Learn the importance of sharing your results. Understand how
to write a scientific report or create a presentation to convey your findings clearly. Include
sections on your hypothesis, methodology, results, and conclusions.

Demonstration of Concepts
Activating Prior Knowledge

Direction : Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. What is the first step in a scientific investigation?
a. Conducting an experiment
b. Asking a question
c. Analyzing data
d. Drawing conclusions

2. What is a hypothesis?
a. A conclusion based on results
b. A process of collecting data
c. A testable prediction or educated guess
d. A set of observations made during the experiment

3. Which of the following is an example of an independent variable?

a. The amount of sunlight a plant receives in an experiment
b. The height of the plant after a week
c. The temperature of the room
d. The growth rate of the plant

4. What is the dependent variable in an experiment?

a. The variable that is kept constant
b. The factor that is changed on purpose
c. The variable that is measured or observed
d. The factor that is not included in the experiment
5. Why is it important to have a control group in an experiment?
a. To test multiple variables at the same time
b. To have a group where no changes are made, used for comparison
c. To increase the number of experiments conducted
d. To change the outcome of the experiment

6. Which of the following best describes qualitative data?

a. Data that involves numbers and measurements
b. Data that can be observed but not measured, like color or texture
c. Data that is calculated using mathematical formulas
d. Data that is irrelevant to the investigation

7. What does it mean to draw a conclusion in a scientific investigation?

a. To make a guess about what will happen
b. To summarize and interpret the results of the experiment
c. To repeat the experiment multiple times
d. To change the variables to get better results

8. Why do scientists repeat experiments?

a. To test if the results are reliable and consistent
b. To change the hypothesis
c. To make their experiment more complicated
 d. To ensure they get a different outcome each time

9. What is the role of observations in scientific investigations?

a. To predict future experiments
b. To gather information using the senses or tools
c. To draw conclusions before the experiment begins
d. To decide on the hypothesis for the next investigation

10. Why is communicating results an important part of the scientific process?

a. To prove the scientist’s opinion is correct
b. To share findings with others so they can verify or build upon the work
c. To make the experiment more complicated
d. To publish it for financial gain

Topi The Scientific

c Investigation
Every day, we encounter situations that spark our curiosity, even if we don’t realize it. Whether
it’s figuring out why a plant in the garden grows better in one spot than another, or why our cold drink
warms up over time, we often find ourselves observing and questioning the world around us. This
natural curiosity is at the heart of scientific investigation.

Getting started
In Grade 6, you conducted basic science experiments like mixing baking soda with
vinegar. You noticed that this combination created bubbles and a fizzing reaction. You probably
wondered, “Why is this happening?” Through this experiment, you learned that a chemical reaction
occurs when certain substances combine, producing gas as a result. This curiosity-driven exploration
is a core part of scientific inquiry. In this lesson, we will explore what scientific investigation is and
break down its components. Let’s discover how these investigations help us answer questions and
solve problems scientifically.

New Concepts

Scientific Investigation

Scientific investigation is a process that scientists use to explore and answer questions about the
world around us. It involves asking a question, forming a hypothesis (a possible answer), conducting
experiments to test the hypothesis, collecting and analyzing data, and then drawing conclusions. This
method helps scientists understand how things work and solve problems based on evidence.

In a scientific investigation, we utilize the scientific method. This method involves a series of
logical steps that guide our inquiry. Let's move on to Activity 1 to explore these steps.

Activity: Sequence the Steps!

Instructions: Below are the steps involved in a scientific investigation. Arrange the steps in the
correct order by writing numbers 1 through 7 (with 1 as the first step and 7 as the last step). Please use
a separate sheet of paper for your responses.

__________ Observe
__________ Test the hypothesis
__________ Identify the problem
__________ Draw a conclusion
__________ Communicate the results
__________ Organize and analyze the data
__________ Formulate a hypothesis

Understanding the Concept

Scientists are naturally curious, always seeking to explore and better
understand the world around us. One of the key tools they use to gain this knowledge is the
scientific method. Through a structured process of inquiry and experimentation, scientific
investigations allow us to discover answers and solve problems, ultimately contributing to the
growth of scientific knowledge. Scientific method is a systematic approach that scientists use
to explore questions, test ideas, and gather knowledge about the natural world. This figure
shows the components / steps in Scientific Investigation:

Make an observation

Ask a question

Construct a hypothesis

Test hypothesis

Organize and analyze data

Drawing conclusion

Communicate the results

Steps in Scientific Investigation

1. Observation
A scientific investigation always starts with observation.
This means noticing things around us using our senses. We
can observe using sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste.
Additionally, we can enhance our observations with tools
like microscopes and thermometers.
 https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pngwing.com%2Fen%2Ffree-png-
kreoq&psig=AOvVaw2Ii4tHnzVuds8cLgS5tg7q&ust=1
728886212897000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBQQjRxqFwoTCLCn26biiokDFQAAAAAdAAAA

Example: Imagine you are creating a garden and notice that the plants grow more quickly
when they receive plenty of sunlight.

2. Identifying the problem

The second step in scientific investigations is to identify a
problem based on your observations. This problem arises when
a researcher becomes curious or interested in something
they've noticed in their environment. Scientific questions
should be clear and answerable, leading to the development of
a hypothesis regarding the problem.
https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/2eV-
W_6VQDMwv-89hl8PFSuJ7Cw=/750x0/
Example: After noticing that plants in your garden grow faster when exposed to sunlight, you filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip

might ask, "Why do some plants thrive better in direct sunlight than others?" This question
could lead you to investigate the specific light requirements of different plant species, helping
you formulate a hypothesis about which types of plants grow best in sunny conditions.

3. Forming hypothesis
To answer a scientific question, the next step is to form a
hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess about the possible
answer to the question. The term "educated" is important because a
good hypothesis is based on research related to the problem. In other
words, it offers a temporary solution to the identified problem. https://cdn-icons-png.freepik.com/
512/3240/3240869.png

Example: Based on your earlier observation that some plants grow faster in sunlight, you
might hypothesize, "Plants that receive more sunlight will grow taller than those that receive
less sunlight." This hypothesis gives you a starting point to test and investigate further.

4. Testing the Hypothesis / Experiment

This is the most exciting part of the scientific investigation because it’s
time to conduct experiments! Here, you will test whether your hypothesis is
true or false. When experimenting, you need to keep in mind several
important terms: https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/2eV-
W_6VQDMwv-89hl8PFSuJ7Cw=/750x0/

The independent variable is the factor you decide

to change in the experiment (e.g., the amount of The liquid use The height of The type of plant
sunlight the plants receive). to water the the plant use, ot size ,
The dependent variable is what you measure to plant amount of liquid,
soil type
see how it changes as a result of your independent
variable (e.g., the growth of the plants).

The controlled variables are the factors that

remain constant throughout your experiment (e.g.,
the type of plant, the type of soil, and the amount of
water given to each plant). https://quizizz.com/media/resource/gs/quizizz-media/quizzes/
L2FwcGhvc3RpbmdfcHJvZC9ibG9icy9BRW5CMlVxZC1lV2V2Z0NjQWFNS0d6QVF6OGt1Si1DcmNDQndMNEh2THpQdTd3
cHdEVlJ3d0JQWTFLQW9JdW8yc0FtUlNYMjZTX1ByX1pSNnhxX2FraEdtMS1oaU1wZHlLQS5kOC13NlFQTUxLOGNBeUF

Example: In your garden experiment, you might decide to test your hypothesis by setting up
two groups of plants: one group gets full sunlight, while the other is placed in the shade.
Here, the independent variable is the sunlight exposure, the dependent variable is the growth
of the plants, and the controlled variables are the type of plants, the soil used, and the amount
of water given.
 5. Organize and analyze data
After conducting an experiment and collecting your data,
the next step is to analyze it. In larger research experiments,
scientists often use statistical software to help them find
patterns and relationships in the data. However, for simpler
experiments, you can analyze the data by looking closely at
how they relate to each other.

Example: After testing your hypothesis about sunlight and plant

https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/2eV-

growth, you would record the height of the plants in both the sunlight and shade groups. You
W_6VQDMwv-89hl8PFSuJ7Cw=/750x0/
filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc

might create a chart to organize this information, showing the height of the plants in each
group. By comparing the data, you can see if the plants exposed to sunlight grew taller than
those in the shade, helping you determine if your hypothesis was correct.

6. Drawing conclusions
If your data support the hypothesis, then you can say that your hypothesis is
likely correct and may explain the observed phenomenon. However,
if the data do not support the hypothesis, you will need to make more
observations, create a new hypothesis, and repeat the scientific
investigation process.
https://encrypted-
tbn0.gstatic.com/images?

Example: After analyzing the growth data of your plants, you find that the plants exposed to
sunlight are indeed taller than those kept in the shade. This supports your hypothesis that
"Plants that receive more sunlight will grow taller." Therefore, you can conclude that
sunlight positively affects plant growth. If your data had shown no difference in height, you
would have needed to observe the plants further, revise your hypothesis, and conduct new
experiments to investigate other factors that might influence growth.

7. Communicate Results
After completing your investigation, it's time to share your
results with others. Reports can be written documents that detail
how you conducted the experiment and the results you found.
You can also present your data using graphs and charts. For
students like you, this means submitting your findings to your
https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/ teacher and sharing them with your classmates and peers.
communicate_7694330

Example: Once you finish your plant growth experiment, you write a report explaining how
you set it up, what you observed, and the data you collected about plant heights. You might
include a bar graph comparing the heights of plants in sunlight versus those in the shade.
Then, you present your findings to your classmates, discussing what you learned about the
effects of sunlight on plant growth.

Here’s more!

Aspiring scientists should develop key scientific attitudes to succeed in their investigations. Curiosity
drives a scientist to want to learn and understand everything happening around them. Careful
judgment ensures that decisions are made based on truth and reliable facts. Open-mindedness is
important for accepting new ideas, even when they differ from one's own opinions. Critical thinking
helps scientists carefully examine all the evidence, striving for accuracy in their work. Finally,
honesty is essential, especially when reporting results, as truthful reporting is the foundation of
reliable science.

Opportunity to Generalize Ideas

After reviewing the information and facts about scientific investigation and methods,
it’s time for you to complete these activities to assess your understanding of the material and to apply
the concepts you’ ve learned.

Review of Learning

Activity 1.

Directions: Each sentence below describes a step in the scientific method. Match each situation with
the correct step of the scientific method. Use a separate sheet for your answers.

Recognize a problem Form a hypothesis Communicate the result

Conduct an experiment Draw a conclusion Make an observation

_________1. Ella noticed that some apples she left on the kitchen counter ripened faster than those
stored in the refrigerator.
_________2. Ben said, "If I water one group of plants every day and another group once a week, the
plants that get daily water will grow taller."
_________3. Sophia's experiment showed that sugar dissolved faster in hot water than in cold water.
_________4. Michael read an article about different types of bird feeders and wanted to test which
type attracts the most birds to his backyard.
_________5. Mia said, "If more bees are visiting my garden this week, it could be because the flowers
are blooming more."

Takeaways

How was the activity? Did you find it easy? To help you with future activities, here’s a summary of
what you've learned:

1. To conduct a successful scientific investigation, a scientist needs to develop basic process skills:
observing, classifying, measuring, predicting, inferring, and communicating.
2. A scientific investigation follows a series of steps known as the scientific method. Here are the key
components:

a. Making Observations: Use all your senses to notice things around you.
b. Asking Questions: Inquire about what you have observed. c. Formulating a Hypothesis: Create a
possible answer to your question.
d. Testing the Hypothesis: Conduct experiments to determine if your hypothesis is correct.
e. Analyzing and Interpreting Data: Examine the data collected to decide whether the hypothesis is
supported.
f. Drawing Conclusions: Determine if the hypothesis is acceptable based on the evidence gathered
during the investigation.
g. Communicating Results: Share your findings with other scientists, teachers, and classmates.

3. Essential scientific attitudes for both scientists and students include curiosity, careful judgment,
open-mindedness, critical thinking, and honesty.

I hope you fully understand these concepts. Now, let's move on to the next activity!

Apply Your Learning!

Now it’s time to put what you’ve learned into practice! Completing this task will help you
appreciate and remember the topic as you advance to the next level of your studies.

Let’s get started!

Your Task: Design a scientific investigation to determine whether ice melts faster in drinking water
or in salty water.

Experiment Time! Good luck!

Rubric for Scientific Investigation Design.

Criteria Excellent (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs Improvement (1)
Hypothesis Clearly states a States a clear Hypothesis s No hypothesis prvided.
testable hypothesis but vague or not
hypothesis that is may lack some testable.
logical and based logical
on prior reasoning.
knowledge.
Methodology Provides a Provides a clear Procedure is No procedure provided.
detailed step-by- procedure but unclear or
step procedure lacks some incomplete.
that is easy to details.
follow.
Variables Clearly identifies Identifies Some variables No variables identified.
and explains variable but are identified
independent, lacks full but explanations
dependent and explanation. are unclear.
controlled
variables.
Data Collection Describes a Describes a Data collection No data collection plan
 thorough plan for basic data plan is unclear provided.
collecting and collection plan or incomplete.
recording data. but lacks details.
Analysis and Provides a Provides a Conclusion is No conclusion or
Conclusion detailed analysis conclusion with unclear or not analysis provided.
and well some analysis, supported by
supported but lacks detail. data.
conclusion based
on data.
Presentation Presentations Presentations Presentation is Presentation is unclear
work neatly and work clearly but somewhat or poorly organized.
clearly, with may lack some unclear or dis
proper formatting organization. organized.
and organization.

Activity 2. SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION

Instructions: Design a scientific investigation if ice melts faster in drinking water or in salty water.

1. Question:

2. Hypothesis

3. Experiment: Describe in detail what you are going to do with your experiment: the set-up,

materials needed and the procedures and steps to follow

___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

4. Analyzing and Interpreting Data

___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

5. Conclusions
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

6. Communicating Results
 ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Measurements of Results or Outcome

Assessment

Instructions: Answer the following questions to assess your understanding of the scientific method.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is the first step in the scientific method?
a. Forming a hypothesis
b. Conducting an experiment
c. Making an observation
d. Drawing a conclusion

2. A hypothesis is best described as:

a. A guess made without any prior knowledge
b. A testable explanation for an observation
c. A fact proven by evidence
d. A summary of experimental results

3. In an experiment, the variable that is changed or controlled by the scientist is called the:
a. Dependent variable
b. Controlled variable
c. Independent variable
d. Experimental variable

4. If the data from an experiment support the hypothesis, what is the next step?
a. Discard the hypothesis
b. Modify the hypothesis
c. Communicate the results
d. Repeat the experiment

Part 2: True or False

1. Open-mindedness means refusing to accept any ideas that differ from your own.
2. A conclusion is made after analyzing the data collected from an experiment.
3. Controlled variables are the factors that remain the same throughout an experiment.

Part 3: Application
Read the situation below and answer the questions that follow:

Situation: Sarah conducted an experiment to test whether different types of soil affect plant growth.
She used three groups of the same plant species and planted each group in a different type of soil:
sandy soil, clay soil, and loamy soil. She watered each plant the same amount and kept them all in the
same sunlight conditions.
1. What is the independent variable in Sarah's experiment?
2. What is the dependent variable in Sarah's experiment?
3. List two controlled variables in this experiment.
4. Based on this experiment, how could Sarah report her results to others?

Prepared by:
Ashniah A. Muslim
BSED Science 3A

Key to Correction
Prior Knowledge New Concepts Review of Learning

1. B 2 1. Make an observation
2. C 4 2. Form a hypothesis
3. A 1 3. Draw a conclusion
4. C 6 4. Recognize a problem
5. B 7 5. Form a hypothesis
6. B 5
7. B 3
8. A
9. B
Assessment

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. C
2. B
3. C
4. C

Part 2: True or False

1. False – Open-mindedness means accepting ideas even if they differ from your own.
2. True – Conclusions are made after analyzing data.
3. True – Controlled variables stay the same throughout the experiment.

Part 4: Application
1. Independent variable: The type of soil used (sandy, clay, loamy).
2. Dependent variable: Plant growth (height or health of the plants).
3. Controlled variables: The amount of water given to each plant. The amount of sunlight the plants receive.
The plant species used.
4. Sarah could report her results by writing a report, including a graph showing the growth of plants in each
type of soil, and presenting it to her teacher or classmates.

References

Book Mapa, et al. "Scientific Method." In Chemistry Textbook Science and Technology, by Mapa
et al, 7-10. SD Publications, 2001.
Offline:
https://www.etutorworld.com/7th-grade-science-worksheets/scientific- method.html Learning
Resources Portal. 2016. https://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/detail/7121
Bryce, S. study.com. 2003. https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is- scientific-investigation-
definition-steps-examples.html (accessed June 29, 2021).
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (n.d.). The scientific method. NASA.
https://www.nasa.gov
National Science Teachers Association. (n.d.). Science and the scientific method. NSTA.
https://www.nsta.org