Correlation vs Causation: Scientific Methods and Critical Thinking
About This Product
Correlation does not equal Causation: Scientific Method and Critical Thinking Lesson for Middle or High School Students
This comprehensive lesson walks your students through all the vocabulary and concepts about correlation vs true experiments in a simple and engaging manner.
12 different real-world correlation examples are included. The lesson will help teach your middle school or high school students about the scientific method and strengthen their media literacy skills as they learn how to spot errors in headlines explaining scientific research. It could be great to use before a science fair unit too!
The package includes handouts, notes, practice questions, a quick review, and an answer key.
How to Use:
Print out 7 pages of worksheets for each kid in your class.
Present the first four pages on an interactive whiteboard in your room.
Teach your students the concepts of correlation (scatterplots, correlation coefficients, positive correlation, negative correlation, mistaking correlation for causation, media examples, third variables, etc.) as they follow along and fill in questions and notes.
Then, students can work to complete the practice questions on the worksheets.
Next, present page six to explain how one can find causation in a true experiment by using random selection, a dependent variable, an independent variable, an experimental group, a control group, and random assignment.
Finally, students complete the review worksheet.
Grades to Use With:
This activity is designed to be used with students as young as grade six up to 12th grade in high school.
What's Included: 10 pages in PDF Format: Ready to Print!
Title Page
Two Pages about Scatterplots and Correlation Coefficients
Two Pages about Correlation Not Indicating Causation
Practice Questions
True Experiments
Review Questions
Two Page Answer Key
Math Standards: 8th Grade Statistics and Probability
Study scatterplots to see associations between 2 variables
Linear relationships are shown as straight lines
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