Asking and Observing Question

You observe that when a metal spoon is placed in a hot bowl of soup, the handle of the spoon also becomes warm after a while. The question that best explains this observation is...

• What is the temperature of the soup?

• Is the spoon made of metal?

• How does heat travel through the spoon?

• How long does it take for the handle to get warm?

You see a bicycle left out in the rain, and the metal parts start to show a reddish-brown coating after some time. The most relevant question to ask about this change is...

• What is the brand of the bicycle?

• Why does the metal change color?

• How long was the bicycle left in the rain?

• Will this coating make the bicycle stronger?

Observing a glass of iced water left on a table, you notice water droplets forming on the outside of the glass. The question that best explains this phenomenon is...

• What is the temperature of the water inside the glass?

• Where does the water on the outside of the glass come from?

• What is the humidity level in the room?

• How long does it take for the droplets to form?

You see a plant growing towards a window where sunlight is coming in. The question that best explains this behavior is...

• What type of plant is it?

• Why does the plant bend towards the light?

• How tall will the plant grow?

• Does the plant need water?

When you mix sugar into a glass of water and stir it, the sugar disappears. The question that best describes what happens to the sugar is...

• Does the sugar evaporate?

• Does the sugar react chemically with the water?

• Does the sugar dissolve in the water?

• Does the sugar sink to the bottom of the glass?

You hear a loud sound of thunder a few seconds after you see a flash of lightning. The question that connects these two observations is...

• How far away was the lightning?

• Did the lightning cause the thunder?

• Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder?

• What type of clouds produced the lightning and thunder?

Observing different types of soil, you notice that some are dark and hold water well, while others are light and drain quickly. The question that explores this difference is...

• What is the temperature of the different soils?

• What are the different components of each soil type?

• How much sunlight do the different soils receive?

• Which soil type is best for growing plants?

You see bubbles rising when you boil water in a pot. The question that explains what these bubbles contain is...

• Is the pot made of metal?

• Is the water getting hotter?

• What is inside the bubbles?

• How long will it take for all the water to boil away?

Observing different types of leaves, you notice that some are broad and flat, while others are narrow and needle-like. The question that explores a possible reason for these differences is...

• Do different leaf shapes help the plant in different environments?

• What is the color of the leaves?

• How many veins are in each type of leaf?

• What is the size of the tree each leaf comes from?

You notice that when you turn on a light switch, the light bulb immediately lights up. The question that explains how this happens is...

• What type of light bulb is it?

• How bright is the light bulb?

• How long will the light bulb last?

• How does the electricity travel to the bulb?