Topic Zero (1.0): Working scientifically
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 Download Tips for Investigations PowerPoint
- Watch this video about planning investigations:
WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 1 – Planning investigations (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.
- 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) Links to an external site.
- 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) Links to an external site.
- Read pages 14-15 of Activate 2 and then watch the mini clip below:
Now read pages 16-17 of your Activate 2 coursebook.
WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 5 – Using evidence and sources (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.
Read pages 18-19 of Activate 2 and then watch both the mini clips below:
WATCH – WS2 Mini Clip 6 – The scientific method (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.
Review
Complete all of the questions on the interactive activity below to check your understanding:
COMPLETE – Working Scientifically Vocab Builder 2 (Kerboodle) Links to an external site.
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]