Names:
Date:
Per:
SPAGHETTI AND MARSHMALLOW TOWER
What is the Scientific Method?
The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer
questions. Does this mean all scientists follow exactly this process? No. Some areas of science can be more
easily tested than others. For example, scientists studying how stars change as they age or how dinosaurs
digested their food cannot fast-forward a star's life by a million years or run medical exams on feeding
dinosaurs to test their hypotheses. When direct experimentation is not possible, scientists modify the scientific
method. In fact, there are probably as many versions of the scientific method as there are scientists! But even
when modified, the goal remains the same: to discover cause and effect relationships by asking questions,
carefully gathering and examining the evidence, and seeing if all the available information can be combined in
to a logical answer.
Lab Materials:
 10 pieces of spaghetti per group
 10 small marshmallows per group
 1 large marshmallow per group
 1 foot of tape per group
 1 piece of paper
Objective:
The objective of the lab is simple. Each group needs to construct a tower that will support one large
marshmallow at the top. The group that builds the highest free-standing tower wins the competition and prize.
Rules for the Competition:
1. The spaghetti, small marshmallows, and tape can be broken or torn to accommodate the tower.
2. The large marshmallow cannot be cut or modified.
3. The measurement will be taken from the base of the tower to the top of the large marshmallow.
4. Students will have a 5-minute planning period to sketch a blueprint of their design.
5. Students will have 30 minutes to build their tower.
Analysis:
1. Define the following terms:
a. Observation
b. Hypothesis
c. Experiment
d. Independent Variable
e. Dependent Variable
f. Control Group
g. Qualitative data
h. Quantitative data
Turn Over
2. Think about the experiment you just finished. Compare each of the words with part of the experiment
you did today. For example: Hypothesis – the 5-minute planning period.
a. Problem/Observation –
b. Hypothesis –
c. Experiment –
i. Constants –
ii. Independent Variable –
iii. Dependent Variable –
d. Conclusion –
e. Peer Review –
f. Final Height of marshmallow tower in cm = ________
3. Homer notices that his shower is covered in a strange green slime. His friend Barney tells him that
coconut juice will get rid of the green slime. Homer decides to check this this out by spraying half of the
shower with coconut juice. He sprays the other half of the shower with water. After 3 days of
"treatment" there is no change in the appearance of the green slime on either side of the shower.
a. Identify the following in this experiment.
i. Control Group
ii. Independent (Manipulated) Variable
iii. Dependent (Responding) Variable
iv. What should Homer’s conclusion be?
v. How could this experiment be improved?