Virginia SOL LS.1.a

LS.1.a is a Standards of Learning science standard. These are the key ideas and practices under it.

• LS.1.a.i

  ask questions and develop hypotheses to determine relationships between independent and dependent variables

• LS.1.a.ii

  offer simple solutions to design problems

01

What Students Need to Do

Students turn an observation into a focused question that can be tested. They predict how one changed factor will affect a measured result. They also propose a workable response to a design need.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

Given a scenario, students identify the changed and measured variables and write an if, then, because hypothesis. For a design brief, they propose a solution that fits the stated limits and explain how they would test it.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may treat a hypothesis as a guess rather than a supported prediction. They may switch the changed and measured variables or change several factors at once. Their design ideas may ignore limits such as cost, size, or available materials.

04

How to Assess It

Give students this exit ticket: “Does ramp height affect how far a toy car travels?” Ask them to label both variables, write a hypothesis, and name one controlled factor.

1. 01

   Change the height of a toy car ramp, measure travel distance, and have students identify variables before collecting three trials of data.

2. 02

   Ask students to revise “Plants grow better with music” into a testable question and an if, then, because hypothesis.

3. 03

   Play a card sort where teams match investigation questions with changed variables, measured variables, controlled factors, and suitable hypotheses.

4. 04

   Give students paper, tape, and a 20-centimeter height limit to design a phone stand, then explain how they would test it.

• 3.1.a

  The 3rd Grade version of this standard.

• 5.1.a

  The 5th Grade version of this standard.

• PS.1.a

  The Grades 7–8 version of this standard.

• 1.1.a

  The 1st Grade version of this standard.