Objectives

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

understand how to write a hypothesis
describe the difference between accurate and precise data
know how to plot a pie chart or a histogram
identify linear or directly proportional relationships
interpret data to draw conclusions
know how to communicate for a scientific audience
describe what peer review is
describe how to assess sources of evidence
identify possible sources of bias

Introduction

In this topic, we expand on what you learnt in the Working Scientifically part of Module One in the Year 7 Science course. If you didn’t study Year 7 with Wolsey Hall then it would be a good idea to study Module Zero which covers this Year 7 Working Scientifically chapter in detail.

Working through your coursebook

Read pages 8-9 of Activate 2. You might notice the diagram on precise vs accurate is very similar to the one in the Tips for Investigations PowerPoint
Watch this video about planning investigations:

WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 1 – Planning investigations (Kerboodle)

Now read pages 10-11 of Activate 2.
Then watch this video clip about presenting data - different types of graphs and charts are used for different types of data:
Remember ALPS when drawing a graph:
- A - Axes with units
- L - Line (or curve) of best fit (on a line graph) (draw this in pencil)
- P - Points plotted precisely (also best done with a sharp pencil)
- S – Scales: plan your scales, so that your plotted data is spread out and takes up at least 50% of the available space

WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 2 - Presenting data (Kerboodle)

Do you know about calculating mean, mode and median? See if you can do this interactive activity:

COMPLETE - WS2 2.2 Maths skill interactive, Presenting data: mean, median and mode (Kerboodle) [Not available on sample course]

Read pages 12-13 of your Activate 2 coursebook and then watch the following mini clip:

WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 3 – Analysing and evaluating data (Kerboodle)

Read pages 14-15 of Activate 2 and then watch the mini clip below:

WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 4 – Communicating scientific information (Kerboodle)

Now read pages 16-17 of your Activate 2 coursebook.

WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 5 – Using evidence and sources (Kerboodle)

Read pages 18-19 of Activate 2 and then watch both the mini clips below:

WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 6 – The scientific method (Kerboodle)

WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 7 – Development of scientific ideas over time (Kerboodle)

Review

Complete all of the questions on the interactive activity below to check your understanding:

COMPLETE – Working Scientifically Vocab Builder 2 (Kerboodle) 

Extension activities for this topic

You could complete the activity below by writing up an experiment in a way that is easily understood:

COMPLETE - WS2 2.4 Activity: Communicating scientific information (Kerboodle) [Not available on sample course]