Virginia SOL LS.1.a.i

ScienceGrades 7–8Life Science

The Standard

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

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science · The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students turn an observation into a testable question. They identify what will be changed and measured, then write a hypothesis that predicts the relationship between those variables.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a scenario, a student correctly names the independent and dependent variables and identifies factors to keep constant. The student writes a focused question and a reasoned prediction that includes the expected direction of change.
Common Misconceptions: Students may label the measured outcome as the independent variable or confuse a constant with a control group. They may change several factors at once, write a hypothesis as a question, or fail to link the variables.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A class tests how hours of light affect bean plant height over two weeks. Name both variables, then write a testable question and hypothesis.

Lesson moves

Pairs change a toy car ramp's height, measure travel distance, and write a hypothesis before completing three trials.
Ask students to compare two hypotheses about fertilizer and plant growth, then explain which is testable and why.
Run a card sort matching investigation scenarios with independent variables, dependent variables, testable questions, and hypotheses.
Students plan how a coach could test whether warm-up length affects sprint time while keeping distance and surface constant.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to LS.1.a.i, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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