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Science · Grade 9

A Biology Investigation with Reviewed Lab Evidence

In this capstone, learners carry out a complete biology investigation into how light affects seedling growth. They plan it with variables, controls, replication and a risk assessment, run a virtual lab and process its data into a graph with a meaningful gradient, analyse a realistic class data set with means, uncertainties and anomalies, evaluate errors, validity and the limits of virtual labs, and write report sections that a teacher reviews.

  • 5 lessons
  • About 130 minutes
  • Investigation skills check: 12 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, draw a graph, highlight a text, match pairs and type a number
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What learners will discover

  • Plan a complete biological investigation: a testable question, a hypothesis with a biological mechanism, variables, controls, replication, sample size and a risk assessment.
  • Collect and process data from a virtual lab: organise tables with units, plot graphs, and calculate and interpret gradients and intercepts.
  • Analyse replicate data: calculate means and uncertainties, handle anomalies transparently, describe trends quantitatively and judge what the data support.
  • Evaluate an investigation: distinguish random from systematic error, judge validity, and explain what a virtual lab can and cannot show.
  • Communicate an investigation in a structured lab report using claim, evidence and reasoning, and give and use specific peer-review feedback.

Lessons

  1. Planning a full investigation 8 steps4 practiceabout 25 min
  2. Running the virtual lab and processing data 8 steps5 practiceabout 25 min
  3. Analysing the class data 8 steps5 practiceabout 27 min
  4. Evaluating errors, validity and virtual labs 7 steps4 practiceabout 25 min
  5. Writing and reviewing the lab report 6 steps4 practiceabout 28 min
  6. Investigation skills check 12 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 9th grade science

Guide for grown-ups