Best Bouncer Lab Introduction

This lab involves planning, conducting, and writing up a scientific investigation and will examine the skills covered in lessons 1-7 and 1-8 of this topic. Students will need up a maximum of lessons carry out all three parts of the investigation in class.

The activity can be executed in a variety of ways depending on the class and whether this is to be a formative or summative assessment. For example:

• The planning and writing up can be done as individual tasks under test conditions with the experiment itself completed in small groups. It is recommended that students ensure that they have a copy of the data before beginning the write up.
• The planning and experiment can be done in small groups and the write up completed as an individual task.
• All three parts can be carried out as a formal assessment under test conditions.

Materials you will need:

• These Worksheets:
  • 1-8 Lab SE - Writing up an Investigation (Click to Download)
  • 1-8 Lab TE - Writing Up an Investigation (Members Only)
  • 1-8 Lab TE - Writing Up an Investigation (Members Only)
  • 1-8 Lab SE - Writing up an Investigation (Click to Download)
• Meter ruler
• Ring stand and clamp.
• Golf ball
• Ping-pong ball
• Rubber ball

Lab Procedure:

Task 1: Planning your Investigation

Write a scientific plan which shows how you will carry out your experiment.

1. Write a hypothesis for your investigation.
2. Which variable will you change in this investigation?
3. Give a range for the variable described above.
4. Identify the dependent variable for this investigation. Briefly describe how you will measure it to obtain some data.
5. List any other variables which you will need to control to make it a fair test. Briefly state how you will control them.
6. Write a detailed method which describes how you will collect your data.
7. Draw a labelled diagram of your experimental set-up.
8. Conduct limited trials to check your method is workable. Place any notes from your trials.
9. List any changes that you need to make to your method. If no changes are required leave this section blank.

Task 2: Conducting your Investigation 

Carry out your experiment and collect data which allows a trend to be observed. Draw a results table to record any measurements you obtain. You also may leave space in your table for any processing you will do in task 3.

Task 3: Writing Up your Scientific Investigation 

Process and interpret your data to allow any trends to be identified and described. Calculate averages and present your data as a graph. Remember to use an appropriate scale and labels.

Write an interpretation of your data.

Summarize your findings as a conclusion which answers the hypothesis of the investigation.

Evaluate your investigation using the following criteria:

1. Identification of any outliers in your data and how they affected the trend.
2. Limitations to the investigation/ difficulties you faced in collecting your data.
3. Improvements you would make if you could repeat the investigation again.

The Writing Up a Scientific Investigation Activity:

Students record their predictions and results of the lab activity. Once the activity is finished, discuss the lab activity and answer post-lab questions.

We also provided some of the Resources below for you to use in class. iTeachly Members can access all the content for the activity and the following lesson.

Students must come up with a unanimous answer for each question. Discussing the answers usually, results in some excellent dialogue on this topic.

Here is your Free Content for the Writing Up a Scientific Investigation Part of the Lesson!

Writing Up a Scientific Investigation - PDFs

• 1-8 Assignment SE - Writing Up an Investigation (FREE)
• 1-8 Assignment TE - Writing Up an Investigation ( Members Only )
• 1-8 Bell Work SE - Writing Up an Investigation (FREE)
• 1-8 Bell Work TE - Writing Up an Investigation ( Members Only )
• 1-8 Exit Quiz SE - Writing Up an Investigation (FREE)
• 1-8 Exit Quiz TE - Writing Up an Investigation ( Members Only )
• 1-8 Guided Notes SE - Writing Up an Investigation (FREE)
• 1-8 Guided Notes TE - Writing Up an Investigation ( Members Only )
• 1-8 Lesson Plan - Writing Up an Investigation ( Members Only )
• 1-8 Online Activities - Writing Up an Investigation ( Members Only )
• 1-8 Slide Show - Writing Up an Investigation (FREE)

Writing Up a Scientific Investigation Worksheets - Word Docs & PowerPoints

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Unit 1 – Lab Skills

• 1-1 Lab Equipment
• 1-2 Drawing Scientifically
• 1-3 Lab Safety
• 1-4 The Scientific Process
• 1-5 Making Observations
• 1-6 Measuring
• 1-7 Planning an Investigation
• 1-8 Writing Up an Investigation

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