Virginia SOL PS.1.b

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

• PS.1.b.i

  independently and collaboratively plan and conduct observational and experimental investigations; identify variables, constants, and controls where appropriate ...

• PS.1.b.ii

  evaluate the accuracy of various methods for collecting data

• PS.1.b.iii

  take metric measurements using appropriate tools and technologies

• PS.1.b.iv

  apply scientific ideas or principles to design, construct, and/or test a design of an object, tool, process or system

01

What Students Need to Do

Students turn a testable question into a safe, fair investigation they can carry out alone or with a team. They identify variables, constants, and a control when one fits, then collect metric data with suitable tools. They judge whether a method gives accurate data and use science ideas to build, test, and revise a solution.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A student writes a repeatable procedure that changes one factor and explains what will be measured. The student uses equipment safely, records metric measurements with units, repeats trials, and spots weak data collection methods. Given a design problem, the student tests a solution and uses evidence to suggest a change.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may call every unchanged factor a control instead of distinguishing constants from a comparison group. They may change several factors, complete only one trial, or record measurements without units. They may choose a familiar tool and assume every digital reading is accurate.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: “You are testing whether water temperature changes how fast a tablet dissolves. Name the variables, two constants, a control, a metric tool, a safety step, and one way to improve accuracy.”

1. 01

   Teams test how ramp height affects toy-car distance, measure in centimeters, keep the car and surface constant, and compare repeated trials.

2. 02

   Ask students to compare a ruler and phone measurement app: Which gives more accurate length data, and what evidence supports that claim?

3. 03

   Run a card sort where students label scenarios as independent variable, dependent variable, constant, control, tool, or safety step.

4. 04

   Students design and test a foil-and-felt cup sleeve, recording water temperature every two minutes and revising the sleeve from their data.

• 2.1.b

  The 2nd Grade version of this standard.

• 4.1.b

  The 4th Grade version of this standard.

• 1.1.b

  The 1st Grade version of this standard.

• 3.1.b

  The 3rd Grade version of this standard.