Challenge 1: Nature of Science

Front

What should Jane do each day to ensure valid results in her investigation of bean plant growth in different soils?

Back

Calculate the average plant height for each soil type.

Front

What is the BEST next step after collecting data on how often neighbors mow their grass to determine its effect on grass health during a drought?

Back

Find out if other things might be affecting the grass (fertilizer, watering, etc)

Front

What could Thomas and Julie do to make sure their results are valid when testing materials to insulate a coffee cup?

Back

Repeat their experiment at least 3 times.

Front

What should Brianna's class do each day before emptying the recycling bins labeled "Boys" and "Girls"?

Back

Count and record the number of paper items recycled in each bin.

Front

Kevin wants to find out which of his toy cars, the Corvette or the Mustang, would roll downhill faster. How should he perform his experiment? Options: Roll each car down the ramp separately five times and estimate which car looked faster. Roll both cars down the ramp together one time and see which one gets to the bottom first. Roll each car down separately one time, and time them. Roll both cars down the ramp together five times and record which gets to the bottom first each time.

Back

Roll both cars down the ramp together five times and record which gets to the bottom first each time.

Front

What should Jonathan and Sarah do to check if their experiment results are valid?

Back

Repeat the same experiment

Front

What should Jordan do next to find out if a hamster can learn a maze as quickly as a mouse?

Back

Observe the behavior of both rodents in the maze.

Front

What is most important for Marcy to do in her science fair project on how levels of carbon dioxide affect plant growth?

Back

She needs to make sure that the explanation of her results is based on evidence.

Front

Which of the following must be true for scientific results to be valid?

• The results should be drawn in a graph.
• The results should be based on evidence.
• The results should support the ideas of other scientists.
• The results should match the predictions of the scientists.

Back

The results should be based on evidence.

Front

What should be a scientist's main goal when conducting an investigation?

Back

The scientist should aim to answer questions about the natural world.