Teaching Independent, Dependent, and Controlled Variables. I use this Smartnotebook Lesson to introduce variables. I try to be creative and have students come up with the variables and even lead them into choosing sunlight for the IV. They are amazed as I erase that it is already set up!!! Included is the Smartnotebook file, 2 homework assignments I use to accompany the presentation, and even a video file of me (boringly) presenting it. (I made the video for a day I had a sub, the audio is