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Science
First Quarter – Module 1: Week 1
Scientific Investigation

Cherilyn A. Rodriguez

SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR INDEPENDENT LEARNING ENGAGEMENT (SMILE)

A Joint Project of the
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF DIPOLOG CITY
and the
DIPOLOG CITY GOVERNMENT
Science – Grade 7
Support Material for Independent Learning Engagement (SMILE)
Quarter 1 – Module 1: Scientific Investigation
First Edition, 2020

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office
wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency
or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties.

Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every
effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective
copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them.

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Cherilyn A. Rodriguez
Editor: Zyhrine P. Mayormita
Reviewer: Zyhrine P. Mayormita
Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team:
Virgilio P. Batan Jr. - Schools Division Superintendent
Jay S. Montealto - Asst. Schools Division Superintendent
Amelinda D. Montero - Chief Education Supervisor, CID
Nur N. Hussien - Chief Education Supervisor, SGOD
Ronillo S. Yarag - Education Program Supervisor, LRMS
Leo Martinno O. Alejo - Project Development Officer II, LRMS

Printed in the Philippines by:

Department of Education – Dipolog City Schools Division

Office Address : Purok Farmers, Olingan, Dipolog City

Zamboanga del Norte, 7100
Telefax : (065) 908-2662; 212-818, 212-3824
E-mail Address : dipologcity@deped.gov.ph
 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It was developed to
help you understand the nature of scientific investigation. The scope of this module
permits its use in different learning situations. The language used recognizes the
diverse vocabulary level of students. The activities encourage a more focused learning
for mastery of the content standards and the development of process skills.

Content Standard Most Essential Learning Competency Code

Demonstrate Describe the components of a scientific S7MT-Ia-1
understanding of Investigation
scientific ways of
acquiring knowledge
and solving problems

This module is focused on the questions:

 What is Scientific Investigation?
 What are the components of a Scientific Investigation?

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define scientific investigation; and
2. describe the processes involved in a scientific investigation.

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 What I Know

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. The scientific investigation begins with

A. an observation of events around us
B. digging of information over the internet
C. asking the opinion of others
D. sharing findings to others

2. Which of the following can be investigated scientifically?

A. Beauty of a painting
B. Value of a sale item
C. Meaning of a poem
D. Age of a rock

3. Which of the following statements could be true of the scientific method?

A. A structure that people can solely depend their lives on
B. A continuous process by which people can learn what’s around them
C. A law of nature to strive and win in competitions against others
D. An ethical way to report news that arise in the universe

4. Which of the following is not a step of the scientific method?

A. Observing and stating the problem
B. Recording and analyzing data
C. Testing the hypothesis
D. Keeping all the results by yourself

5. An educated guess is called

A. a conclusion
B. an observation
C. a hypothesis
D. a data

6. Which is an example of a hypothesis?

A. If an object falls, then it drops to the ground.
B. Sugar solution is sweet to taste.
C. Ripe mangoes are yellow in color.
D. Plant A grows healthier than Plant B.

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For numbers 7-10, refer to the given situation below.

Daphne wants to know the effect of temperature on the rate that a solid
dissolved in water. She decided to set up an experiment to find out.

7. What would be Daphne’s statement of the problem?

A. Does coffee dissolve faster in cold or hot water?
B. What would happen if you drink hot coffee?
C. Will coffee taste much bitter in cold temperature?
D. Does water volume affect the quality of coffee drink?

8. How will Daphne ensure that the experiment is a fair test?

A. Use same amount of water
B. Use different containers
C. Mix different brand of coffee
D. Reduce the amount of coffee

9. Which of the following would be the dependent variable of the experiment of

Daphne?
A. Dissolving amount
B. Water temperature
C. Coffee variant
D. Dissolving time

10. At the end of the experiment, Daphne stated that coffee dissolves faster in
hot water than in cold water. What does this statement signifies?
A. An observation
B. A hypothesis
C. A conclusion
D. A question

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Lesson
The Nature of Scientific
1 Investigation
Investigation is at the heart of science. It improves your thinking skills and
assesses your understanding of science concepts. In doing science investigation you
also develop positive attitude towards science. Do you know how scientists discover
and invent things? Let us find out in this lesson.

What’s In

In Grade 6 you have performed activities like science experiments. For

example, you mixed sugar and water. In the process of mixing, you have observed
that the resulting sugar-water mixture appears uniform in appearance. The solid
becomes part of the liquid and cannot be seen. You may say the sugar dissolves in
water, or sugar is soluble in water. The sugar and water mixture is homogeneous
and it is called a solution.
What is the role of experiments in scientific inquiry?

In this lesson, you will define what a scientific investigation is and describe
its components.

Notes to the Teacher

Remind the students to include the additional activities in this

module.

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 What’s New

Scientific Investigation Defined

Scientific investigation is also known as scientific inquiry. It is a complete
approach to learn science through practical works. Let us read the story of Jack in
Activity 1.

Activity 1: Story Reading

Jack and the Sitao Bean Plant

Once upon a time there was a boy called Jack. He lived with his
loving mother and father in a farm house. One morning, Jack’s mother
told Jack to help his father in the backyard garden.
In the garden, Jack saw lots of vegetables. But he is more curious
of the green vine climbing up the bamboo trellis. Jack said, “Father! Look!
The plant climbs up this bamboo ladder. What are they?” The father said,
“They are sitao bean plants, my child”.
Jack looked closely at the plants. He is surprised and said,
“Father! The plants are fruiting! Wow! I see lots of long green strings of
green sitao beans. How did you do that?” The father replied, “I watered
them early in the morning with the rice washings that your mother saved
when she cooks rice”.
Jack wondered and asked, “Oh! Rice washings? Why? What do
rice washings have that help the sitao beans grow healthy?
Mother came in and said, “That is true my child. We tried it for
quite some time and it works! I wondered too. Come on Jack! Let us find
out”.
And so, Jack and his mother begin to search for more information
about rice washings. They found out that rice washings contain nitrogen,
phosphorous, and potassium that are beneficial for the plants to grow.
Since then, Jack and his parents continue to apply rice washings
to improve the growth of their sitao beans and other vegetables.
And they lived happily ever after.

Did you like the story of Jack? Can you relate to his experience?

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 What is It
Components of Scientific Investigation Described
In conducting a scientific investigation, the scientific method is used. This
method includes a series of logical steps. Let us do activity 2 to reveal the steps.

Activity 2 Jumbled Tiles

Arrange the jumbled letters to reveal the term described by the clue.

1. O B E R V E S Notices something

2. S U E Q R I N O Gets curious and asks

3. O Y P H T H S S E I A guess

4. P X E E R I T E N M Plan and test

5. L N A A Y E Z Interpret observation

6. L O N C C U D E Generalize

7. H S A R E Communicate

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Let us describe each component of the scientific method.

Activity 3 Guess What Am I?

Read each slide card thoroughly. Take a guess which slide card best
describes each step of the scientific method. Arrange (using the letter) the slide
cards from 1-5 and write your answer on a separate answer sheet.

1. Observe and Ask

2. Research and Hypothesize
3. Plan and Experiment
4. Analyze and Conclude
5. Communicate the Result

 When you noticed something around you and you decide to find out
more about it. You begin to ask what is happening. Your scientific
observations are based on facts and can be proven.

 Why is it happening? What would happen if…? You are defining the
problem or question by creating ideas that can be tested by
experiments

 What do I want to know? What do I want to know more about? You

are curious and established your purpose of the investigation.

 Explain your results to others by presenting your

experiment, the observations, and conclusions

 Join in school science fair

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 C
 When you define why something happens without actual
experimental results but merely based on observation, an
educated guess is formed called a hypothesis.

 Doing background research will help you make a hypothesis.

 A hypothesis can be stated as "If [I do this] , then

[this] will happen."

 Plan on how to collect data to answer the question by

identifying the variables.
 Which is the independent (manipulated/cause) variable?
Which is the dependent (responding/effect) variable?
 Which variables are to be controlled?
 Perform an experiment that is a fair test with only one (1)
factor changed at a time.
 The experiment will be a series of steps to test whether your
hypothesis is correct or not.

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 Use recorded data presented in charts, tables and graphs

 Look closely on what happened during your experiment.

 Check for patterns on the results gathered

 Use the information to make a conclusion

 Decide whether your hypothesis was correct or not

 Compare it to results of other similar experiments.



What’s More

Now, let us explore more about scientific investigation. Perform Activity 4

Activity 4 Field Trip

Procedure

1. Look for three (3) items or products that you see in any part of your house.
Write their names and describe the characteristics of each of these
products. You may make a table similar to Table 1 below on a separate
sheet of paper.

Products Found at Home Characteristics

white in color, no odor, has
Sugar
granules, taste sweet, solid, looks
like a crystal, rough to touch, has
one (1) phase or appears uniform

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 2. As you observe each product, describe the products in terms of color,
appearance, odor, feel, taste (for food products only), and number of
observable phase/s.

3. Answer the following questions:

a. Based on your observations, which products are homogeneous

mixtures?
b. What common characteristics do the homogeneous mixtures in your
list have?
c. Which of these products or items do you think are solutions?

As you performed the activity, here are some of the things that you demonstrated:

 Observing samples using your senses

 Defining what to look for
 Guessing what kind of matter the samples are
 Categorizing the sample materials according to their appearance

You have just conducted an inquiry in a scientific way. Isn’t it exciting?

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Let us explore further!

Activity 5 Mix and Match

Read each statement at the left column. Match each with the following steps.

OBSERVATION INTERPRETING DATA HYPOTHESIS

PROBLEM SHARE THE RESULT CONCLUSION

EXPERIMENT

1. After experiment, Angela accepts her hypothesis that an

increase in the amount of fertilizer XYZ dissolved in
water will result to an increase in the acidity of the
solution.

2. Francisco would like to help his father repair their

tricycle, which is running poorly. He suggests that if they
change oil, the tricycle will function properly.

3. After presenting the results of the experiment in a line

graph, Isidra analyzed that between two toy cars of
different masses and traveling at the same velocity and
path, the massive car has greater momentum.
4. Ten okra plants treated with chicken dung fertilizer were
found to have more and bigger fruits while other
10 with old fertilizer have less and smaller fruits.
5. A group of scientists studying global warming wants to
accurately predict what the average temperature of the
earth’s surface will be 100 years from now.
6. After conducting a scientific investigation on sinaw-
sinaw plant extract as an effective treatment to control
the growth of E.coli, Carl Joseph tells about his findings
in a science fair activity at school.
7. To identify which combination of rubber tree latex and
cassava starch will give the most heat resistant
bioplastic, Lexi Faith prepares 25%, 50% and 75%
cassava starch-rubber latex mixture.

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 What I Have Learned

After knowing the steps of the scientific method, how do we solve a problem
scientifically? Let us do Activity 6

Activity 6 Poster Making on Nine Characters

Complete the poster from left to right. Use the given clue word that fits each
description box.

The Scientific Method Observation Question

Hypothesis Collect Data Analyze
Conclusion Communicate Plan

A process for Based on

scientific facts and can Is asked
investigations be proven as guide

Interpret Write Share

what the generalization findings to
data tell others

Is a How to gather Gather and

testable evidence record
educated information
guess

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 What I Can Do

Let us apply what you have learned and do Activity 7

Activity 7 Situational Analysis

Consider the given situation.

During the bread and pastry class of Julie, she watched closely as her
teacher demonstrated how to bake a pan de sal.
She noticed that her teacher added yeast. She asked her teacher, “Teacher
Ramona what is the use of yeast?” Teacher Ramona replied, “The yeast will
make the bread rise. It will release gas as it is feed on sugar.”

Julie wonders if the amount of sugar will affect the size of the bread.

If you are Julie, how will you solve the problem scientifically?

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.

1. Scientists study about the events of our physical universe by using

A. Law of Nature
B. Scientific Method
C. Big Bang Theory
D. World Timetables

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2. In science, activities are performed to test a stated hypothesis. These
activities are called
A. Controls
B. Variables
C. Data
D. Experiments

3. The method of gathering information by using your senses in a scientific

inquiry is called
A. Observation
B. Experiment
C. Conclusion
D. Prediction

4. In a scientific investigation, a hypothesis can be described as

A. a tentative explanation
B. a problem statement
C. a generalization
D. an interpretation

5. Which of the following is not considered as a step of the scientific

method?
A. Stating the problem
B. Drawing a conclusion
C. Predicting outcomes
D. Changing Results

6. Consider the chart below.

Table 1*. Dissolution time of 1g of coffee granules in 250 mL of water

Set-up Average Time , min

Hot water 3
Cold water 6
* A hypothetical data

The chart would most likely be used during an experiment designed to

answer which of the following problem?
A. Can temperature affect how fast coffee granules can be dissolved
water?
B. Which variant of coffee granule dissolves faster in water?
C. How can coffee granules be dissolved in water?
D. Does the energy present in water affects the taste of coffee?

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7. Jabar wants to investigate the effect of kalabo-sambong leaves extracts on the
soothing effect of liniment oil. He decided to set up an experiment to find out.
To make a fair test, what would Jabar control?
A. Source of kalabo-sambong leaves
B. Ratio of kalabo-sambong extract
C. Amount of liniment oil produced
D. Volume of water applied

8. After experiment, Timothea accepts her hypothesis that an increase in the

amount of cow manure fertilizer dissolved in water will mean an increase in
the acidity of the soil mixture. Which component of a scientific investigation
is being described?
A. Interpreting data
B. Making a conclusion
C. Writing an observation
D. Defining a problem

9. Lexi Faith wanted to investigate which combination of rubber tree latex and
cassava starch will give the most heat resistant bioplastic, Which of the
following would be the dependent variable of the experiment?
A. Percentage composition of mixture
B. Heat resistance of bioplastic
C. Amount of rubber latex added
D. Volume of bioplastic produced

10. After conducting a scientific investigation on sinaw-sinaw plant extract as

an effective treatment to control the growth of E.coli, Carl Joseph headed the
group participation in a Regional Science Fair to tell about their findings.
This scenario describes which component of a scientific investigation?

A. Formulating a generalization
B. Stating a problem
C. Communicating with others
D. Drafting a hypothesis

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 Additional Activities

Individual Scientific Investigation

You are going to investigate how the size of the solid being dissolved affects
how fast it dissolves in water. Using the Scientific Method as a guide, you should
design a simple experiment and record your results. Be sure to complete each step
of the scientific method in order. You should submit a written or typed report to be
graded.
Remember that you should have stated in your conclusions whether the
hypothesis was accepted or rejected, and have provided suggestions for further
experimentation. The written report will be rated using the scoring rubric.

Procedure
1. Obtain the two materials and examine them closely: granules of table salt
(uncrushed) and crushed table salt.
2. Write a hypothesis in a testable form. Describe a test you could conduct to
find out which of the two materials dissolves faster.
3. Identify the variable that you need to control in order to have a fair test.
4. Identify the independent (manipulated/cause) and dependent
(responding/effect)
5. List all the materials you need, including the amount. You may ask these from
your teacher.
6. Be sure to record all your observations and tabulate them. Write everything
that you observed during the dissolving test.
Scoring Rubrics for Individual Scientific Method Exploration

Grading Superior Excellent Good Fair Poor

Criteria
5 4 3 2 1

Observations

Hypothesis

Defined
Variables

Procedure

Analysis

Conclusion

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 Superior Meets all requirements; exhaustive coverage; completely understands
problem and ability to apply solution; shows originality; few
grammatical errors.
Excellent Meets all requirement; well defined and documented; excellent
understanding and ability to apply solution; shows evidence of
creativity; few errors. To the solution of new problems; show more
evidence of creativity and more details; few grammatical errors.
Fair Uneven work; meets some requirements; poor coverage; little
understanding and ability to apply data to problem solving; needs to
improve significant areas; many grammatical/mechanical errors.
Poor Meets few requirements; little understanding and little application on
solution; grammatical/mechanical errors are significant
Good Meet requirements; fairly well planned and documented; shows
understanding and ability to apply data

Summary
Science is a discipline that asks and answers questions about things around
us. It is a way of conducting an investigation of our physical world by a series of
logical steps called scientific method.
The elements of observation, hypothesis formation, prediction, and testing
together comprise the scientific method. In practice, it is a never-ending cycle of
collecting data, identifying pattern and regularities in the data, forming hypotheses,
and making predictions, which lead to more observations.

In conclusion, scientific investigation is a repeatable human endeavor that

allows our senses, instinct, and logic to acquire knowledge of our natural
environment.

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Answer Key

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References
Printed

DepEd. (2017). Science 7. Learner’s material.

Santos, G. N. C. & Ocampo, J. P. (2002). General science for high school. (1st Ed).

Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store.

Electronic Source

Moeed, A. (2013). Science investigation that best supports student learning:

Teachers' understanding of science investigation. International Journal of
Environmental & Science Education, Vol. 3, No. 3. Doi:
10.12973/ijese.2013.218a

Steps of the scientific method. July 20, 2020. July

<https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-fair/steps-of-
the-scientific-method>
Scientific method. July 21, 2020. <https://www.ck12.org/book/ck-12-physical-
science-for-middle-school/section/2.1/>

PDF File

Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC). (2016). Learning Module Science

Grade 7 Quarter 1 Matter [PDF File]

Scientific Method. PDF File. July 20, 2020.

https://www.geosociety.org/documents/gsa/geoteachers/NatureScience.pdf
Scientific Method. PDF File. July 20, 2020.
https://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/536
4/NOTES%20Scientific%20Method.pdf
Scientific Method. PDF File. July 20, 2020.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~bio31/01a.SciMethod_Handout.pdf
Scientific Method. PDF File. July 21, 2020.
https://www.wccusd.net/cms/lib/CA01001466/Centricity/domain/1040/gr
ade%207%20lessons/ScientificMethodManiaV1.pdf

Images

Boy And Physics Experiment [.png Cartoon]. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.canva.com/media/MACNAcS1fU4.

Boy In Lab Experimenting [.png Cartoon]. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from

https://www.canva.com/media/MACNM13plcg.
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Boy Scientist After A Failed Experiment [.png Cartoon]. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.canva.com/design/DAEER4J5uKk/xTiTskfKledPci9vqy
fqBg/edit?category=tACFajEYUAM#.
Coughing Girl After A Failed Chemical Experiment. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.canva.com/media/MACpmduBE2w
Girl Doing Experiment [.png Cartoon]. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.canva.com/design/DAEER5V06KU/0vzfxAbgljoW1X5CqQVyOA/edi
t?category=tACFajEYUAM#

Kid Boy Formicarium [.png Cartoon]. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from

https://www.canva.com/media/MACJvhVb7A8.

Kid Boy Ice Experiment Illustration [.png Cartoon] August 8, 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.canva.com/media/MACz3lchJ6U.

People Big Data [.png Cartoon]. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from

https://www.canva.com/media/MADWJNt5ChI.
Scared Girl After A Failed Chemical Experiment. August 8, 2020. Retrieved from
https://www.canva.com/media/MAC.

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