Scientific Method
A student says, “I think the plant near the window will grow taller than the plant in the cabinet.” Which step is shown?
A. Ask a question
B. Make a hypothesis
C. Draw a conclusion
B. Make a hypothesis
The student is making a testable prediction about what will happen.
A student changes the amount of water given to each plant. What is the amount of water?
A. Independent variable
B. Dependent variable
C. Constant
A. Independent variable
It is the factor the student purposely changes.
Which sentence is a claim?
A. Plant A grew 12 cm.
B. Plants grow taller with more sunlight.
C. Sunlight provides energy for photosynthesis.
B. Plants grow taller with more sunlight.
A claim directly answers the investigation question.
Which sentence is evidence?
A. The metal surface caused faster melting.
B. The ice on metal melted in 6 minutes.
C. Metal transfers heat quickly.
B. The ice on metal melted in 6 minutes.
Evidence is an observation or measurement collected during the investigation.
Which sentence is reasoning?
A. The dark shirt reached 38°C.
B. The dark shirt became hotter than the white shirt.
C. Dark colors absorb more light energy, causing the shirt to warm.
C. Dark colors absorb more light energy, causing the shirt to warm.
Reasoning uses a scientific idea to explain why the evidence supports the claim.
A student measures the temperature of water every two minutes and records the numbers in a table. Which step is shown?
A. Collect and analyze data
B. Communicate results
C. Make a hypothesis
A. Collect and analyze data
The student is gathering and organizing measurements from the investigation.
A student changes the amount of water and measures each plant’s height. What is the plant height?
A. Control group
B. Dependent variable
C. Independent variable
B. Dependent variable
Plant height is the result being measured.
Three paper airplanes travel 4 m, 7 m, and 5 m. Which is the BEST claim?
A. The airplanes were made of paper.
B. Airplane B traveled the farthest.
C. Airplane B traveled 7 meters.
B. Airplane B traveled the farthest.
It answers what the results show; the 7-meter measurement is evidence.
Which is quantitative evidence?
A. The liquid smelled sour.
B. The liquid turned cloudy.
C. The liquid reached 42°C.
C. The liquid reached 42°C.
Quantitative evidence includes a number or measurement.
Claim: Warm water dissolves sugar faster. Evidence: Sugar dissolved in 20 seconds in warm water and 55 seconds in cold water. Which is the BEST reasoning?
A. Twenty seconds is less than 55 seconds.
B. Warmer particles move faster and collide with the sugar more often.
C. The sugar was white.
B. Warmer particles move faster and collide with the sugar more often.
It uses science to connect the time measurements to the claim.
Which is the BEST testable scientific question?
A. Why are flowers pretty?
B. Which color is the nicest?
C. Does the amount of sunlight affect plant height?
C. Does the amount of sunlight affect plant height?
It can be tested by changing sunlight and measuring plant height.
A student tests whether water temperature affects how quickly sugar dissolves. Every cup has the same amount of water and sugar. Which is a constant?
A. Water temperature
B. Time needed to dissolve
C. Amount of sugar
C. Amount of sugar
It is kept the same in every trial.
The question is, “Does warmer water dissolve sugar faster?” Which is the BEST claim?
A. Sugar dissolved in 25 seconds.
B. Warmer water dissolves sugar faster than colder water.
C. Warm water has faster-moving particles.
B. Warmer water dissolves sugar faster than colder water.
It clearly answers the investigation question.
A student claims that Brand X paper towels absorb the most water. Which evidence is relevant?
A. Brand X absorbed 35 mL of water.
B. Brand X has a blue package.
C. Brand X costs less at one store.
A. Brand X absorbed 35 mL of water.
It directly relates to how much water the towel absorbed.
Which response contains reasoning instead of only repeating evidence?
A. Plant A grew 14 cm and Plant B grew 7 cm.
B. Plant A grew more because it received more light energy for photosynthesis.
C. Plant A was taller than Plant B.
B. Plant A grew more because it received more light energy for photosynthesis.
It explains the result using a scientific concept.
A student tests three paper-towel brands. Brand A absorbs 18 mL, Brand B absorbs 32 mL, and Brand C absorbs 21 mL. Which is the BEST conclusion?
A. Brand B absorbed the most water.
B. All paper towels absorb the same amount.
C. Brand A is the best because it looks thicker.
A. Brand B absorbed the most water.
This conclusion is directly supported by the recorded data.
A student tests whether fertilizer affects plant growth. Group A receives no fertilizer, Group B receives one scoop, and Group C receives two scoops. Which group is the control group?
A. Group A
B. Group B
C. Group C
A. Group A
It receives no fertilizer and provides a comparison for the other groups.
A student tests seeds under red, blue, and green light. The average heights are 8 cm, 13 cm, and 9 cm. Which claim is BEST supported?
A. Blue light caused the greatest plant growth in this experiment.
B. Blue light is always best for every plant.
C. Light color does not affect plant growth.
A. Blue light caused the greatest plant growth in this experiment.
It is specific and does not make a claim beyond the data collected.
A student claims that fertilizer increased plant growth. Which evidence BEST supports the claim?
A. The fertilized plant was green.
B. The fertilized plant grew 15 cm, while the unfertilized plant grew 8 cm.
C. Both plants were watered every day.
B. The fertilized plant grew 15 cm, while the unfertilized plant grew 8 cm.
It gives relevant measurements and includes a comparison.
Claim: A steeper ramp made the toy car travel farther. Which reasoning BEST connects the evidence to the claim?
A. The car traveled 80 cm from the steep ramp.
B. A steeper ramp gave the car more gravitational potential energy, which changed to motion.
C. The ramp was made of cardboard.
B. A steeper ramp gave the car more gravitational potential energy, which changed to motion.
This scientific principle explains why the car traveled farther.
A student predicts that warmer water will dissolve sugar faster. The student tests three temperatures and records the times, but writes, “My hypothesis was correct” without comparing the results. What should the student do next?
A. Repeat the prediction
B. Analyze the data and use it to draw a conclusion
C. Change the question to match the hypothesis
B. Analyze the data and use it to draw a conclusion
A conclusion must be based on the actual results, not only the original prediction.
A student wants to test whether soil type affects plant growth. The student uses different soils and also gives each plant a different amount of water. Which change would make the experiment fair?
A. Use the same soil for every plant
B. Give every plant the same amount of water
C. Measure only the tallest plant
B. Give every plant the same amount of water
Only the soil type should change; other conditions should remain constant.
A class tests whether ramp height affects toy-car distance. Average distances are 40 cm from a 10-cm ramp, 68 cm from a 20-cm ramp, and 67 cm from a 30-cm ramp. Which is the MOST accurate claim?
A. The highest ramp always makes the car travel farthest.
B. Increasing the ramp from 10 cm to 20 cm increased distance, but 30 cm did not increase it further.
C. Ramp height has no effect on distance.
B. Increasing the ramp from 10 cm to 20 cm increased distance, but 30 cm did not increase it further.
This claim accurately describes the full pattern without exaggerating.
A student claims that warm water dissolves sugar fastest. Which evidence is STRONGEST?
A. Sugar dissolved in warm water.
B. Sugar dissolved in 22 seconds in warm water, 41 seconds in room-temperature water, and 65 seconds in cold water.
C. The warm-water cup felt hot.
B. Sugar dissolved in 22 seconds in warm water, 41 seconds in room-temperature water, and 65 seconds in cold water.
It uses precise data from all conditions to support the comparison.
Claim: Fertilizer increased plant growth. Evidence: Fertilized plants averaged 18 cm; unfertilized plants averaged 10 cm. Which is the BEST reasoning?
A. Eighteen is greater than ten.
B. Fertilizer contains nutrients plants use to build new tissues, so the extra nutrients explain the greater average growth.
C. The plants were measured with a ruler.
B. Fertilizer contains nutrients plants use to build new tissues, so the extra nutrients explain the greater average growth.
It explains the evidence with science and clearly connects it to the claim.