Project question
Define a testable claim and methods for your independent capstone project.
Independent project definition: researchable question, testable claim, methods outline with identified variables and measurement units, a designated control, and one named limitation.
- 1Do thisDefine a testable claim and methods for your independent capstone project.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisPre-lab: Independent project definition: researchable question, testable claim, methods outline with identified variables and measurement units, a designated control, and one named limitation.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Biotechnology for Health (Biomedical Innovations) › Forensic chain-of-custody basics, independent project claim, final portfolio audit; no new curriculum after Dec 11. › Pre-labOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: A well-formed project question and methods plan are the foundation of independent scientific inquiry.
- 0-5 minWarm-up: share your draft project question from the prelab
- 5-20 minRefine your researchable question with teacher and peer input
- 20-40 minWrite your claim and outline your methods with variables and measurement units
- 40-55 minIdentify your independent variable, dependent variable, and control
- 55-70 minName one limitation and how it affects what your results can claim
- 70-80 minExit ticket: state your question, claim, and the one control you will include
- • Your capstone project starts here: a question you can actually investigate, and a plan to investigate it.
- • We'll use the same scientific method standard applied in every BI unit: claim, evidence, methods, limitation.
- • A good question is specific enough that you could answer it with the resources available in this class.
- • By the end of today, your project is defined and documented.
- 1State a clear, researchable question for your project.
- 2Write the claim you expect your project to support.
- 3Outline the methods you will use to gather evidence.
- 4Identify your key variables and how you will measure them.
- 5Note one limitation of your proposed approach.
- • You wrote a testable claim with matching methods.
- • You named your variables and one limitation.
- • A testable claim specifies what you expect to find and in what direction.
- • Methods must include the independent variable, dependent variable, control, and measurement units.
- • Naming a limitation upfront shows scientific honesty and improves the overall design.
Your PLTW work today
Forensic chain-of-custody basics, independent project claim, final portfolio audit; no new curriculum after Dec 11. · Project question
Day 3 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Problem 8 in your myPLTW course shell and navigate to the current independent project activity, then define a testable claim and methods for your capstone project.
Add your project question, claim, and methods outline to the Problem 8 portfolio.
The chain-of-custody table is done; project definition is the foundational Problem 8 milestone, so confirm your timing.
Project question and methods outline submitted as evidence.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Forensic chain-of-custody basics, independent project claim, final portfolio audit; no new curriculum after Dec 11. · Project question
Open Problem 8 in your myPLTW course shell and navigate to the current independent project activity, then define a testable claim and methods for your capstone project.
The chain-of-custody table is done; project definition is the foundational Problem 8 milestone, so confirm your timing.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Define a testable claim and methods for your independent capstone project.
- State a clear, researchable question for your project.
- Write the claim you expect your project to support.
- Outline the methods you will use to gather evidence.
- Identify your key variables and how you will measure them.
- Note one limitation of your proposed approach.
Pre-lab: Independent project definition: researchable question, testable claim, methods outline with identified variables and measurement units, a designated control, and one named limitation.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| State a clear, researchable question for your project. | _______ |
| Write the claim you expect your project to support. | _______ |
| Outline the methods you will use to gather evidence. | _______ |
| Identify your key variables and how you will measure them. | _______ |
| Note one limitation of your proposed approach. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You wrote a testable claim with matching methods.
- You named your variables and one limitation.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Forensic autopsy project by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-7_Forensic-Autopsy/7.1_Forensic-Autopsy; keywords:forensic, autopsy, fetal pig, organ. Score 158. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Forensic autopsy project by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-7_Forensic-Autopsy/7.1_Forensic-Autopsy; keywords:forensic, autopsy, fetal pig, organ. Score 158. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this as the classroom resource for Forensic autopsy project.
Placement rationale
Matched Forensic autopsy project by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-7_Forensic-Autopsy/7.1_Forensic-Autopsy; keywords:forensic, autopsy, fetal pig, organ. Score 158. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Lab & supplies
- • All biological materials must be handled at BSL-1 or as directed by the teacher for the specific organism.
- • Wear gloves, goggles, and lab coat whenever handling biological samples or chemical reagents.
- • Decontaminate all biological waste with 10 percent bleach before disposal; nothing biological goes in regular trash.
- • If PCR amplification is used, keep amplicons covered to avoid aerosol contamination of other samples.
- • Any human-sourced material (saliva, cheek cells) requires explicit teacher approval and must follow HIPAA-analogous data handling: no student names attached to samples.
- • Report any chemical or biological spill immediately; do not attempt to clean up alone.
- • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after any contact with biological or chemical materials.
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your Pre-lab.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
NIST Forensic ScienceOptional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Thu, Apr 29, 2027 · Project question here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project