EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
WEEKLY PRESENTATIONS
In order to prepare for future scientific investigations in high school and beyond, our class
will present experimental designs weekly (every Friday) beginning on September 6, 2013. Students
will become familiar with the Scientific Method as they choose a simple question to experiment with.
Every student will conduct a scientific investigation each semester (a total of two for the school
year). By the end of the year the students will have mastered the steps necessary in conducting an
experiment/scientific investigation by participation and observation (students will have seen sixtyplus experimental designs overall). Mr. Baker will randomly assign students to a “Friday” to present
their experiment this semester and another “Friday” next semester. The experimental design counts
as a test grade and should not be taken lightly. If the students manage their time wisely and put forth
considerable effort, then everyone should walk away with a 100% on this assessment. See below for
the Criteria (rubric). Examples and Procedures are provided on the back of this handout.
RUBRIC
WEIGHT
TOTAL
POSSIBLE
Question
1
Not in
question form
2
Unable to
test question
3
Testable
question
4
“3” plus it’s an
original question
x1
4
Research
1
No research
to support
question
2
Limited
research
provided
4
“3” plus research is
cited correctly
(bibliography)
x5
20
1
Does NOT
support the
research
1
Does not
follow
experimental
steps (see
proc. # 5)
1
Observations
not relevant
to experiment
2
Supports the
research
somewhat
2
Some parts
of the
Experiment
missing (see
proc. # 5)
2
Observations
somewhat
relevant to
experiment
2
Somewhat
related to
analysis
3
Research
provided &
supports
question
3
Supports
the research
4
Supports the
research strongly
x3
12
3
ALL parts of
experiment
provided
with pictures
as evidence
3
Observations
relevant to
experiment
4
“3” plus controls /
variables listed and
a table that shows
how observations
were recorded
4
“3” plus data
provided with visual
(chart, graph, etc.)
x 10
40
x5
20
3
Related to
analysis and
hypothesis
confirmed or
denied
4
“3” plus info
provided on how to
repeat the
experiment based
on hypothesis being
correct or not
x1
4
Hypothesis
Experimental
Design
Analysis
Conclusion
TOTAL
1
No relation to
analysis
100
PROCEDURES:
1. Once you are assigned a “Friday” to present, make sure you begin to
manage your time wisely. An experimental design is not completed the
night before it is due! Give yourself time to research, collect materials,
conduct a thorough experiment, record observations and prepare a
conclusion.
2. Use the steps of the Scientific Method to guide your experimental design
(same steps that we are currently using with the catapult project). See
your Catapult Packet for these steps.
3. Your research may be from a book, magazine, newspaper, internet,
video, etc. Properly cite your sources in order to provide evidence for
your hypothesis.
4. Your Hypothesis (educated guess) should be based upon your research.
You MUST research before creating a hypothesis.
5. Write AND perform a detailed experiment that will test your
hypothesis. Be sure to include the materials needed to conduct the
experiment. Identify “controls” and “variables” that you are using
within your experiment. Your written experiment should be simple to
follow (just like the ones that I give you in the lab to follow) with clear
directions and procedures. Be sure to include a graph, chart or some
kind of visual to record your observations within your experiment
(Remember the charts from the coin lab, measuring mass lab, etc.).
Take pictures for evidence of performing experiment!
6. Record your observations in a neat manner. This is the analysis part of
the experiment. Be sure that your audience can interpret the findings
easily with your chart, graph, etc. Don’t forget to label your graph or
chart AND provide a title!
7. Prepare a conclusion that either declares an accurate or inaccurate
hypothesis. How would you test it again if it were correct/incorrect?
8. When in doubt, follow the order of the Catapult Packet, which outlines
EVERY step of conducting an experiment from the question to the
conclusion.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN EXAMPLES:
1. How does a catapult work?
2. Which brand of grip tape on a skateboard lasts the longest?
3. Which brand of mascara is the most waterproof?
4. Which brand of shoe provides the best shock absorbents?
5. How do you increase the intensity of a speaker?
6. Is “Mentos” the only thing that makes soda erupt?
7. Why does helium make your voice sound funny?
8. When playing Laser Tag, why are mirrors everywhere in the facility?
9. Would bells in a middle school help students from being tardy?
10. How can you better protect a football player w/out slowing him down?
PARENT SIGNATURE: ______________________________________________________