Scientific Method Practice Quiz

Match the following vocabulary words.

• observation

• a prediction to answer a question, based on observations and research

• data

•  something that can change the outcome of an experiment

• hypothesis

• steps that scientists follow to answer a question about the world

• variable

• measurements and information collected during an experiment

• scientific method

• something you notice with your five senses

Match the following vocabulary terms.

• independent variable

• what is measured in an experiment

• control variable

• what stays the same in an experiment

• dependent variable

• word / descriptive measurements

• quantitative data

• number measurements

• qualitative data

• what is changed or tested in an experiment

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Put the steps in the correct order of the scientific method. Not all steps are listed.

• experiment

• organize and analyze data

• conclusion

• question

• hypothesis

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

What is the qualitative data in the sentence below? Select all that apply.

There are twelve brown, slimy worms in the soil that vary in length between 6 to 8 centimeters.

• brown

• twelve

• 6 to 8 centimeters

• slimy

What is the quantitative data in the sentence below? Select all that apply.

There are twelve brown, slimy worms in the soil that vary in length between 6 to 8 centimeters.

• brown

• twelve

• 6 to 8 centimeters

• slimy

Sasha noticed that when she ate cereal for breakfast before school, she could focus better in her classes. She decided to run an experiment. On Monday and Wednesday she ate cereal for breakfast. On Tuesday and Thursday, she didn't eat any breakfast. She made sure to get the same amount of sleep each night and drink the same amount out of water each morning. Each day, she wrote down how well she could focus in class on a scale of 1-10.

What are the variables in this experiment?

• independent variable

• how well she could focus in class on a scale of 1-10

• control variables

• eating breakfast

• dependent variable

• amount of sleep and water

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

Ms. Lawless observed that the more students were on their cell phones, the lower their grades were. She decided to perform an experiment. She let half of the class use their cell phones during a lesson, but the other half could not use their cell phones. She taught the same lesson to everybody and gave them the same quiz at the end. She compared their quiz scores. Wow! The students without their cell phones distracting them had a higher average quiz score than the ones who had their phones!

What are the variables in this experiment?

• independent variable

• quiz scores

• dependent variable

• using cell phones during class

• control variables

• the same lesson and quiz

Angel noticed that the cacti in his yard grew more in the sun than in the shade. He decided to perform an experiment so he could know for sure. He left half of the cacti in the sun, and put up an umbrella to shade over the other half. He watered the cacti the same amount each week. After 1 month he measured the cacti in the sun and shade and compared them.

What are the variables in this experiment?

• independent variable

• amount of sunlight

• control variable

• how much the cacti grew

• dependent variable

• amount of water

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-1