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Contributed by: Oregon State Department of Education
Materials
- coffee can
- index card
- rubber cement
- straw
- scissors
- plastic wrap or balloons
- rubber band
- barometer or barometric readings
Directions
After building your barometer, develop a procedure to answer a
question using scientific inquiry. The question is: "In
your investigation over the next two weeks, what type of local weather
conditions (like humidity, temperature, precipitation, wind, storms)
can barometric readings predict?"
- Using the barometer you made in class, your task is to use scientific
inquiry to answer this question.
- You will have the next two weeks to make observations and then
you will have two class periods to complete your investigation.
As you design your investigation, think about:
- How will you keep track of the barometric measurements? For
example, tables or graphs.
- How will you know if your barometer is working correctly?
For example, keep track of the barometric reading from a reliable
source like the newspaper or off of the Internet.
- How can you be sure that you can compare your measurements
from day to day? What variables should you control?
- How will you record the weather conditions each day?
Under the heading "PROCEDURE" list, in order, the steps
you will use to answer the question. You may include a diagram
to help illustrate your plans for the investigation. Include any
safety procedures you would follow. Make your procedure detailed
enough, so someone else could follow it easily.
- Construct a data table or chart or indicate any other method
you could use to record your observations and results that will
be obtained.
- Perform the investigation by following the steps outlined in
your procedure. Be sure to note any changes to your listed procedures
and tell why.
Under the heading "RESULTS" record your observations
and measurements. Write statements or paragraphs and/or use tables
and graphs where appropriate.
- Under the heading "CONCLUSIONS," write an interpretation
and analysis of your results. Note any limitations to your investigation.
What additional investigations or questions were suggested as
you did your investigation?
5. Under the heading "SCIENTIFIC QUESTION," based
on what you learned in your investigation, write your own question
that can be answered with further scientific inquiry using the
same classroom materials that you had for this investigation.
- Write a report of your experiment, including the sections mentioned
above.
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