Lesson Seven: What affects a crater's size?

Lesson Description

Students brainstorm variables that affect a crater's size and then investigate one of these variables by making craters of their own. This lesson includes a discussion of independent and dependent variables and also graphing.

Instructions

Answer each of the following questions in your inquiry notebook.

  1. Make a list of things than can affect a crater's size.

  2. Come up with your own sub-driving question concerning possible causes of a crater’s size. What is your sub-driving question?

  3. Describe how you plan to answer your question.

  4. Now collect and analyze your data. On a piece of butcher paper, please include the following:

    • Display your research question.

    • Display a table of your data collection.

    • Display a graph using Excel of your data collection.

    • Write your conclusions. Please consider the following. Did your data collection answer your question? What have you learned from your data analysis?

    • Write down a follow-up question.