Are you looking for an activity for students to practice identifying independent and dependent variables? Most independent and dependent variables practice activities tend to provide a statement and have students identify the independent and dependent variables. A typical practice question goes like this:

The problem with Typical Questions

Typical practice questions are fine if you want students to be able to pick between two variables to determine which one is dependent or independent. Unfortunately, typical practice questions are bland and limited in scope. What if you want students to think outside the box? What if you want students to flex their creative muscles in designing their own experiments? This invariably starts with identifying a unique independent and dependent variable that doesn’t come from a statement off a worksheet.

In this resource, we propose using open-ended experimental design statements to have students practice identifying independent and dependent variables in fun and relevant situations. Also, we provide a worksheet of our own with 10 statements you can use in your classroom. The worksheet is available for download at the end of this post.

Thought Experiments for Variable Practice

A simple observation of independent and dependent variable practice worksheets is that the statements are usually all thought experiments. So, why not make the thought experiments fun and relevant? Also, why not make answers open ended as opposed to a choice between two items included in the design question. Therefore, instead of asking for the effect fertilizer use (independent variable) has on plant growth (dependent variable), why not discuss the multiple variables that can grow the social media presence of a small business?

The Case for Inquiry Questions

In our practice activity, we provide inquiry questions and ask for students to identify some examples of independent or dependent variables in each case. However, a twist we add is that we fix one variable and then ask for multiple examples of the other. For example, consider the inquiry question, “How do you get BIG on Instagram?”

Fact is, there are many things you can do to get big on Instagram. In other words, there are lots of independent variables one can change and manipulate to test. Also, there are many things we can measure to determine if you’re big on Instagram or not. In other words, there are lots of dependent variables to measure to determine how “big” the account is getting.In this case, we’re asking for a variety of independent variables to test. However, instead of asking for a variety of dependent variables, we focus on one. Ultimately, this produces different independent variables one can test. The two examples below display the variety of answers one can get just by changing the dependent variable we are measuring.

or

This is one of our favorite examples. For one thing, it’s relevant and fun. Students already use social media, and growing a social media presence will likely resonate with some students. Also, it’s a question that has multiple answers even though there is only one outcome we are looking for. Thus, students will come up with a lot of ideas. Hopefully, those ideas will lead to a lot of discussion. And, it is through the resulting discussion that more learning will occur.

Therefore, inquiry questions lead to greater discussion. On the other hand, typical questions tend to have students just checking whether they got the “right answer”.  Why not use open ended examples for independent and dependent variable practice?

Some more fun, variables practice examples

Here are some examples we thought would be fun to have students examine and discuss. Hopefully, your students will come up with a variety of great ideas – the quirkier the better!

1. How do you make a nutritious candy bar?
2. How do you create an awesome coffee shop?
3. How do you make more friends?
4. How do you improve student wellness at school?
5. How do you make the next big music album?
6. How do you make a Youtube video go viral?
7. How do you make a city “greener”?

Remember to set either the independent or dependent variables for the students as a creative constraint. Our worksheets that are available for download have variables set already.

Have fun!

Wrap Up

Knowing how to identify independent and dependent variables in a science experiment is an important skill for students to learn. Independent  and dependent variables practice is equally as important too. And, using inquiry questions for variables practice to generate a multitude of ideas and engaging discussions is the way to go. Click the link below to download our handouts that include our images as well as our fun examples in a class ready worksheet.

Until next time, keep it REAL.

Resources

Handout(s): 26 – Variables Practice Worksheet

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