How do we “do science”?
When you learned the scientific method, many of you learned
an ordered set of steps.
Unfortunately, these experiments often don't do justice to the
creative process of designing a method to test a hypothesis,
because the method is provided for them. The development of
an authentic way to test a hypothesis requires students use logic
and communication, as well as flexibility with changing a
design that doesn't seem to work. Inquiry labs, or open-ended
labs, allow students to explore science, answer a question, or
test a hypothesis without the traditional recipe tied to
traditional labs. We will use inquiry labs throughout the year.
In some cases, you will be given a question, for which you
much create a hypothesis, a prediction and a procedure.
For other experiments, you will be asked to focus on obtaining
and interpreting data.
Let’s start with some simple questions that deal with…FOOD!
Please remember that food used in lab cannot be eaten. But…
if you promise not to eat the cookies we use in lab, I will
provide a cookie for each of you at the end of lab! (even if you
do the Bounty experiment.
CHOOSE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ON THE NEXT PAGE
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1. Oreo Cookie Challenge
Do Double-Stuff Oreos actually have double the
stuffing or regular oreos?
Equipment Available: Scale, Beaker, Rulers, *Oreos
and Double Stuff Oreos, weighing dishes (or weighing
paper.
2. Are Bounty paper towels more absorbent than generic
paper towels?
Equipment: Beaker, Graduated Cylinder, Scale, Rules,
Water, Two types of towels, weighing dishes
3. How does surface area of a candy affect how quickly it
dissolves in water?
Equipment: smarties or sweet tarts (or any sugary
dissolvable candy that can be cut into smaller portions),
water, ruler, scale, *scalpel or wooden mallet, timer
Prelab Activity
Remember that the answer to the question is not as important
as the process, and in fact, you may find it difficult to come up
with a specific answer. Your question must be testable.
You must document your process (design) Once you have
done this, have at least one other group read over what you
plan to do. Listen to feedback they give you and make
adjustments to your process.
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1) What is your experimental question
2) Your hypothesis (include reasoning)
3) Your experimental design . How will you test your
hypothesis? What will you measure? What will your
“process” be?
4) Data collected. You must set up a table to collect your data.
A data table typically has the levels of independent variables
listed in column or row, and the dependent variable (what you
measure as a result) in the “cells”. If you do your experiment
more than once, be sure to leave a column to average your data.
DATA TABLE:
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5. Graph your results (if appropriate). The graph must be
labeled properly and on graph paper or done on computer.
5) Your Conclusions (this includes restating your hypothesis,
using actual data points (stating them) that support your
conclusion and what you would infer (conclude) based upon
your experimental question and hypothesis.
Extension
Now that you have a feel for consumer testing, come up with
two claims you have heard (either on TV or on your
computers) that are testable. How would you design an
experiment to test the claim?
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Investigation: How Much Water Is In the Plants that You
Eat?
What do we know? (You often use previous knowledge to answer
questions)
1. All living organisms consist mostly of water.
2. The adult human body is about 60% water.
3. As much as 95% of the weight of some plants is due to the amount of
water they contain.
Experimental Question: Which organic material has the greatest
percentage of water: grass, grapes, or carrot?
State Your Hypothesis:
Materials Needed



1. Which material contained the most water (percentage)? How do you
know?
balance or digital scale
grass clippings or leaves, grapes, carrot
newspaper for drying plants
Collecting Data
1.
Weigh a handful of grass clippings then set them on a newspaper.
2. Weigh four grapes, then cut them in half and place on
newspaper to dry.
3. Weigh a single carrot then cut into strips and set out to dry.
4. Weigh all the materials after they have dried overnight.
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2. Grass is a leaf, grapes are fruits, and a carrot is a root. Based on the data
of this lab, do different parts of the plant contain more water than others?
Suggest a reason for this.
3. A bag of popcorn kernels weighs 22 grams, and after popping them, the
popcorn is weighed. The weight of the popcorn is 16 grams. Explain why
the popcorn weighs less than the popcorn kernels.
4. Do your results confirm any of the 3 initial premises in this investigation?
Explain reasons why your results may be different.
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The Gummi Bear
Experiment
What is your hypothesis?
Draw a picture that shows the design of your experiment. In other words,
what equipment, how much water, water temp, color of gummi bears, time
to dissolve, amount of vinegar, etc. Don’t forget the balance to weigh the
gummi bears before and after they are in the water
Questions (choose ONE):

Will changing the water temperature affect how
quickly a gummi bear dissolves in water?

Will a dismembered gummi bear dissolve faster?

Does the color of gummi bear affect how quickly it
dissolves?

Will gummi bears dissolve faster in acidic water?
Materials Needed:
Gummi bears (variety of colors)
Beakers or cups
Warm water / Room temperature water
Plastic knife or scalpel (for dismembering gummi)
Vinegar solution (for acidic water)
Scale or ruler (or you can just compare by sight)
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Data Table (think about the data you need to record. How will you set up
your table so that it is easy to read and use. In addition to the table, would it
make sense to make a graph? What type of graph should you use?
What is your conclusion (be sure to restate your hypothesis
here.
The Scientific Method - Plop Plop Fizz Fizz
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In this lab, you will develop and test a hypothesis, analyze data
and draw conclusions. You are given guidance at each step of
the way. Fill out this form completely - do not skip steps!
HYPOTHESIS
Step 1: Question or Observation
Question: What factors will make an alka-seltzer tablet
dissolve faster?
EXAMPLE OF A PREDICTION:
Variables to test: (choose ONE variable)
Alka seltzer will dissolve fastest in ______________ water,
TEMPERATURE
Tap water, Warm water, Cold water
and the slowest in _________ water.
TYPE OF WATER
Salt Water, Acidic water , regular water
Step 3: Design and Conduct and Experiment
A) Will you use a whole tablet or a half a tablet of alka
Of the variables above, circle the one that should serve as
your CONTROL group.
seltzer? _______________
Which variable will you test, temperature or type of water?
B) How will you measure how quickly it
Is this your dependent, indene
dissolves? ____________________________
C) How much water will you place in your
What is the responding variable, or the thing you will be
measuring? _________________
Step 2: Develop a hypothesis and a
prediction.
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beakers? __________________________
Will this amount be the same in all of your
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tests? _______________
D) What safety precautions should you take?
Step 4: Create a table to record your results.
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Step 5: Draw Conclusions
–
Use complete sentences.
1. Restate your hypothesis.
2. State whether or not your data supports your
hypothesis or disproves your hypothesis.
3. Provide at least one or two comparisons of the data
(the actual numbers) that support sentence two.
4. Finally, what would you recommend to a person
taking this type of medication, and why. Keep in
mind, you would like the tablet to dissolve quickly,
but you want to make sure the patient will be able to
consume the medication.
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