Inquiry on Weather process handouts and notes

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The Inquiry Process – Stage 1
Exploring a Question

What is it? “Exploring a Question” is often (but not always) the beginning of an inquiry process
There are two main steps:
1. A person poses (asks) real questions about something they do not understand.
2. A person finds resources (information) to answer his/her question(s)

ALSO NOTE: The order for these 2 steps does not matter. Sometimes, you may have a question
and then you look for an answer. At other times, you may first learn about something and then have a
question after learning. Then, you simply find other resources to learn more!

STAGE 1
Exploring a
Question

What kind of questions can I ask? Anything! This is science! You may ask about anything you
wish! But remember, finding an answer may not always be possible.

What kind of resources can I use? There are various types of resources to use. For instance:
1.
Read a book
2.
Search the Internet
3.
Use a computer program like a simulation
4.
Ask somebody such as your teacher, your parent or even your
classmate.
** Also, remember! Not everything you read or hear is always true. It is important to be critical of
your resources too!

Does the Water Cycle Really Exist? Let’s try to Prove It
(or Not!) Activity
Overview-
--> You have learned recently that water is constantly changing states (ex. water to vapor and then back
to water) because of the sun.
--> You have also learned that the water changes states according a special pattern or process known
as the Water Cycle
--> Now you will attempt to show if this is true or by performing a special activity
--> Also, in the process, you will review the first stage of inquiry and learn about the next stage too!

Instructions –
Step 1 - Explore a Question (review Inquiry stage 1 and your knowledge on the water cycle)

What is the Water Cycle? (supposedly!)
 Copy the inquiry question above on the first line in the box below
 After, write down some general information that you have learned so far to answer this question
(You can write almost anything you want on your topic. Look at your notes or textbook and try to write a
small background paragraph in the rest of the box )

Inquiry Topic: __________________________________________________________ ?

General Information: ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Step 2 – Make a Prediction-

--> Your teacher will begin a special experiment to show you how simulate a small part of the Earth’s
atmosphere (an ocean, an island and some sunlight)

--> Watch carefully to your teacher as he shows you the simulation’s set up
--> In a moment, you will set up and then run the simulation yourself! But first, you are required to make
a prediction below!

According to what you learned, there should be a connection between the (amount of ) sunlight and the
state of water. Use your knowledge of this connection, to predict what will happen when you later run
this simulation.

Focus: I wonder if the weather cycle truly exists. I will do a special simulation of the ocean, an
island and some sunlight to explore further.
If the water cycles does exist, I think there is a connection between ____________________
and __________________ (Hint- look at the italic part above for what to write here!)

My Scientific Prediction: Thus, for this particular simulation experiment, I think ____________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
My Hypothesis:
I believe my prediction is right because____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Step 3 – Perform the Simulation Activity-

--> You'll need two glass jars of the same size, a rock, masking tape and food coloring.

--> Now, follow the instructions below:

1. Pour a small amount of water into one of the jars. Add a few drops of food coloring. This water
represents the ocean.
2. Put the rock in the middle of the jar. Some of the rock should stick up out of the water. This rock
represents land.
3. Invert the second jar and place it over the first jar. Tape the two jars together.
4. Place the model in a sunny windowsill and wait and observe.

Step 4 – Record

--> Write down below anything that you observed in time. Was your prediction right or wrong? Try to
explain about his and other ideas you may have.

___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Extension Challenge – Can you design another simulation to help show that the water cycle exists?
--> On A4 paper, write out ALL of the same steps above but this time, create your own procedure for
Step 3. Have fun too!

Guided Exercises for Making Predictions and Hypothesis
(for the topic of Weather)

Part 1 –
i) Pick out and write the independent variable and dependent variable for each scientific
prediction given in the below on the first two blanks.
ii) Write the hypothesis (the second sentence) on the third blank.

1. I think the amount of heat given by the sun is related to the amount of water evaporation.
Therefore, if I put a glass of water in the sun on a hotter day, more water should evaporate faster.

This is because the greater heat of the sun makes particles of water move faster. Then, when
they move faster, they become less dense and change into a gas (or vapour).

Independent Variable - ________________________________________________ (Hint- starts with H)

Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________ (Hint- 2 words)

Hypothesis - _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. I think the air temperature is related to distance from the Earth’s core. Therefore, if I measure the
air temperature at 10 km above the ground and 50 km above the ground, it should be colder at 50
km.

This happens because the Earth’s core is hot and gives off heat by conduction. So, any air that is
closer to the ground will be heated up more by conduction than the air higher up from the ground.



Hypothesis - _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

3. I believe the thickness of the ozone is connected to the amount of exposure to UV rays of the sun.
So, if I stand somewhere in the world where the ozone layer is weaker (Ex. south pole), I will get
a sun burn faster.

This is because the ozone has a specific molecular structure of three bonded oxygen elements.
Somehow, this arrangement can shield things below it from the Sun’s harmful radiation. So if the
ozone is thicker, there are more ozone molecules and then the sun is shielded better by them.



Hypothesis - _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Part 2 –
i) Pick out and write the independent variable and dependent variable for each simple prediction
given in the below on the first two blanks.
ii) Then, reword the prediction by adding sentences or changing words to make it a proper
scientific prediction. (See Part 1 for good examples of a scientific prediction or today’s note)
iii) Write a possible hypothesis of your own on the last blank. (Just try your best!)
** More than one correct answer is possible!

1. If there are more bad pollutants (harmful chemicals in the air) such as CFCs in the air, the ozone
layer will have more holes in it



My Scientific Prediction - ______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. So, if I go to Venus without wearing a special spacesuit I will be burnt by the greater heat from the
sun that is absorbed by its denser atmosphere and die.



__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Part 3 –
i) Look at the idea for doing any inquiry.
ii) Decide yourself a possible independent and dependent variable that you could use to make a
prediction.
iii) Then write a proper scientific prediction and hypothesis on the lines provided.

** Multiple correct answers are possible!

1. Going higher up in a balloon….. (hint… air pressure and ….)

Independent Variable - ________________________________________________

Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Decreasing the temperature more for a simulation of the water cycle … (hint… temperature and..)

Independent Variable - ________________________________________________

Dependent Variable - _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

My Hypothesis - _____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

The Inquiry Process – Stage _____
____________________________________

Overview- You have explored a question and you now have a prediction and hypothesis. Now, it is time
to test (prove) your prediction and hypothesis. How can you do that? You need to make a procedure.

What is an inquiry procedure- An inquiry procedure is a written plan that you make (and later follow) to
test out a prediction and hypothesis.

Procedure Parts- there are 4 main sections in an inquiry procedure.

Section 1 _____________________- in this section, you write your prediction and hypothesis.

Section 2 ______________________- in this section, you make a list of the materials you will need to
carry out your procedure.

Section 3 ______________________- in this section, you write a list of steps to follow to test your
prediction and hypothesis.

Section 4 __________________________- Here, you create charts or diagrams to help you make
observations when you follow your directions later.

Other Important Elements- 1. A procedure should have a _________. A chart should have a
________.
2. The procedure steps should be ___________________ in the right
order.
3 .Charts should allow you to record multiple _____________
(see ** below)

** What is a trial? A trial is a repeat of the inquiry’s experiment (or other). When you do the
experiment, you should (almost) never do the experiment only one time. You should do it MANY times.
And you should record your results for EACH and EVERY trial (ie. Each and every time)

So, be careful when you make your chart. There should be spaces to write down your observations for 3
or more (normally) repeats of the experiment you are going to do.

Example Procedure
What Makes a Paper Helicopter Drop Faster? Title

In this inquiry, we will try to find out how to make a helicopter drop faster.
We think we can increase the dropping speed by decreasing the blade length. Purpose
Paper helicopters with shorter blades should drop faster because there is
less drag. (air resistance)

Materials
1. 3 paper helicopter pattern papers
2. scissors Materials
3. 3 paper clips
4. Watch or clock

Directions
1. Cut out each helicopter by cutting along the solid lines using the scissors
2. Fold the flaps back along the dotted lines for each helicopter.
3. Add a paper clip to the bottom of each helicopter.
4. Label the helicopters: 1, 2 and 3. Directions
5. Cut 1 cm off of both blades for helicopter 2.
6. Cut 2 cm off of both blades for helicopter 3.
7. Drop each helicopter 3 times. Time how long it takes a helicopter to drop.
8. Record the times in the chart provided.

Time Versus Helicopter Blade Length
Time Trial Helicopter 1’s Helicopter 2’s Helicopter 3’s
time time time
1 Chart
2
3

Formal (Guided) Inquiry 1 – What is Weather – Day 1
Overview – Today, you will begin your first formal inquiry for your current topic: weather
- Actually, you will only complete the first 4 stages of the inquiry process but you will go through
them like real scientists (Just you will not continue after stage 4)
- And you will be guided through the stages to ensure you
understand better
- Also note, that you will rewrite this inquiry a second time and your
second draft will be graded so try your best

Inquiry 1 Topic – What is Weather?

Stage 1 – Exploring a Question

 Copy your topic’s inquiry question (What is Weather?) on the first line in the box below
 After, write down some general information that you have learned so far about your topic
(You can write almost anything you want on your topic. Look at your notes or textbook and try to write a
small background paragraph in the rest of the box )

Inquiry Topic: __________________________________________________________ ?

General Information: ______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

Stage 2 – Making a (Scientific!) Prediction

 Now you should write a prediction about a more specific inquiry focus for your inquiry’s question
 For this guided inquiry, the particular topic has been chosen for you below. Just check the box
below it to show your understanding
 Last, make a proper scientific prediction relating to your particular topic* *

 Remember to include: an independent and dependent variable
 Also, remember to write a two-part sentence where you first show the relationship between your
variables and then you make your guess
 Last, (if you can) try to write an explanation for making your guess using “science”. This is you
hypothesis

Specific Inquiry Focus: Now, I wonder more specifically how weather behaves. For this inquiry
I will explore weather behavior more.

My Scientific Prediction:
Here is now what I want to check out more. I think there is a connection between
____________________ (write variable 1) and __________________ (write variable 2).
So, _____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

My Hypothesis:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Stage 3 – Creating the Procedure

 Finally, for Day 1 of your first formal inquiry, you need to write down HOW you will test your
prediction.
 In other words, you cannot just start using your materials, you have to first formally explain step
by step what you plan on doing
 Also, remember one of your steps will require you make a chart to record your observations later.
Make the chart now BUT DO NOT FILL IT IN NOW. (You will do that later in stage 4)

To make your procedure, use the following headings below but write your procedure on separate
A4 paper and attach.

My Inquiry’s Materials-

My Inquiry’s Procedural Steps-

My Observation Chart –

 This is all you need to do for now (Day 1).
 Remember, you will continue the inquiry in the next class. BE PREPARED! CHECK WITH
TEACHER FOR NEEDED MATERIALS OR BRING THEM YOURSELF!
 Also remember, you will receive a mark for this inquiry!

The Inquiry Process – __________ Ah! You mean
________________________________ experimenting!

___________________________- You now have a prediction and hypothesis. As
well, you made a procedure to test your predication and hypothesis. Now, you are ready to experiment.
You will follow your procedure and make observations. In the end, you find out if your prediction is true
or not. This is Stage 4: Conducting the Procedure.

______________________________? It’s very simple.
1. Just get your materials and follow your procedure steps!
2. Do the experiment or activity.
3. Make observations.
4. Find out if your prediction was correct.

….Also,, there are few other things to remember when conducting a procedure….

1. ______________________! Remember, when you conduct your procedure, you have to
write down what you see. Already, you should made a chart. Remember, to USE your chart!

2. ___________________________! Repeating is VERY IMPORTANT!! Also, remember to
do the same procedure again and again! Also, write down the results for each repeat. We call the
repeat a trial.

3. _______________________________________________! Sometimes, your
procedure might have a problem. Sometimes, you might forget a step to do. Also, you might
discover a better way. So… change!! You can re-write and re-do your procedure anytime. In fact,
all scientists do this. Practice makes perfect!

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Inquiry on Weather process handouts and notes