Magic Sponge Capsule Lab
NAMES:
Purpose: Use the scientific method to determine if the temperature of water affects the growth of a magic sponge capsule.
State the problem: _______________________________________________________________________________
Gather information (read the container they came in- what do the directions say; what is their size, color, texture, etc…)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Form a hypothesis:
IF we use __________________ water, THEN the sponge animal will grow larger.
Temperature of water
Test the hypothesis (do an experiment):


Materials: 3 glass beakers that are the same size, 3 capsules, 3 different temperatures of water (ice water, room
temperature water, and hot water), a clock to keep track of time, ruler, a paper towel
Experiment steps:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Gather materials and take them to your desk, except for the water
Once you have all the materials at your desk, you may get the water. You need to fill each beaker with
water to the top line. Use the back sink for room temperature water and get the cold and hot water from
Ms. Schonhoff. Don’t forget which beaker has the hot, cold, and room temperature!! If you think you
might forget, label them by setting the beakers on a piece of paper with labels.
Once you have ALL materials ready on your desk, you may place the capsules in the water. One capsule per
beaker. Try to place them in the beakers at the same time! Watch the clock and fill out the data charts.
Let the sponge capsules in the water for about 15 minutes- record the time
 While you are waiting, please work on your assignment quietly- don’t forget to watch the clock!
Work with your partner to try and take out the sponge animals at the same time- record the time
Lay them flat on the paper towel
Measure each one, height and width
Fill out the data chart
CLEAN up your area
Data Charts:
What time did you put the capsules
in the water?
What time did you take the capsules
out of the water?
Size
Capsule in cold water
Height of sponge
animal
(at its tallest point)
Width of sponge
animal
(at its widest point)
Multiply the height
and width to find a
general surface area
Capsule in room
temperature water
Capsule in hot water
cm
cm
cm
cm
cm
cm
cm²
cm²
cm²
*surface area will not be accurate because of the animal’s shape, but it will give a an idea about which animal is larger
Analyze the data:
1.
Which sponge animal was the largest?
2. Which sponge animal was the smallest?
3.
Do you think they would be larger if the capsules were in the water for a longer period of time? Why?
4. What else could have been different about your experiment to make the sponge animals grow even larger?
Conclusion:
1.
Was your hypothesis correct?
2. If you hypothesis was INCORRECT, make a new hypothesis
IF_______________________________________________________________
THEN____________________________________________________________
3. If your hypothesis was correct, what would be your next step if we had more time?
4. If your hypothesis was incorrect, what would be your next step if we had more time?