Designing a Science Fair Experiment
Goal:
Learn how to develop a problem-based science experiment (i.e., no models or posters, solving a real-world problem through scientific investigation)
Process:
Teacher will review the steps of the scientific method and relate each step to a sample experiment:
Shooting free throws with differently inflated basketballs (Show video of Mr. A. Knight, Mr. C. Knight, and Mr. B. shooting free throws in the gym). Each teacher will shoot a ball with different inflation level and analyze results (e.g., flawed experimental design). Teacher will guide students to the realization that each teacher should have shot all 3 basketball types and then analyze results.
🔑To review the steps in the Scientific Method, click here.
Vocabulary:
control
variables
independent variable
dependent variable
trial
hypothesis
results
conclusion
reject/accept
hypothesis,
sample size
blind trials
Summary of Science Experiment performed by Mr. Knight and 5A:
🏀Hypothesis: An Overinflated basket ball caused my team to lose the
game
Experiment Design: Shoot ten free throws with an over inflated ball, ten with a normally inflated ball and one with an under inflated ball.
The experiment and results:
Karim shot with an overinflated ball - 3/10
Jalysa shot with just a right ball - 5/10
Coreon shot with under inflated ball - 6/10
Variables: All three players had different form, skill levels, and experience
levels. There was one girl and two boys. Their clothing was different, shoes were different, bracelets were worn by one player, balls were different brands, one player wore glasses, audience participation/encouragement was different and it's possible that someone may not feel comfortable with a lot of attention...
Clearly the experiment was flawed so the data is flawed.
What can we do to address the variable so that all things are the same?
Ideas:
Balls should be the same brand and all for boys or all for girls
Audience should not participate - be silent
Everyone in audience look at rim and not at players
Have a pre-test to help choose people with the same ability
But the best thing we can do is to have one person shoot all the balls
One person shooting experiment and results:
shooting with overinflated ball - 6/10
shooting with under inflated ball - 6/10
shooting with normally inflated ball - 2/10
Observations:
The energy of player was a factor - deal with this by allowing a break in between; different days, at the same time
What you Should Do Now:
Using this class experiment as an example, begin thinking about an experiment you could create. Keep paper and pencils with you to jot down ideas. Be prepared to discuss your ideas for your experiment in class.
Learn how to develop a problem-based science experiment (i.e., no models or posters, solving a real-world problem through scientific investigation)
Process:
Teacher will review the steps of the scientific method and relate each step to a sample experiment:
Shooting free throws with differently inflated basketballs (Show video of Mr. A. Knight, Mr. C. Knight, and Mr. B. shooting free throws in the gym). Each teacher will shoot a ball with different inflation level and analyze results (e.g., flawed experimental design). Teacher will guide students to the realization that each teacher should have shot all 3 basketball types and then analyze results.
🔑To review the steps in the Scientific Method, click here.
Vocabulary:
control
variables
independent variable
dependent variable
trial
hypothesis
results
conclusion
reject/accept
hypothesis,
sample size
blind trials
Summary of Science Experiment performed by Mr. Knight and 5A:
🏀Hypothesis: An Overinflated basket ball caused my team to lose the
game
Experiment Design: Shoot ten free throws with an over inflated ball, ten with a normally inflated ball and one with an under inflated ball.
The experiment and results:
Karim shot with an overinflated ball - 3/10
Jalysa shot with just a right ball - 5/10
Coreon shot with under inflated ball - 6/10
Variables: All three players had different form, skill levels, and experience
levels. There was one girl and two boys. Their clothing was different, shoes were different, bracelets were worn by one player, balls were different brands, one player wore glasses, audience participation/encouragement was different and it's possible that someone may not feel comfortable with a lot of attention...
Clearly the experiment was flawed so the data is flawed.
What can we do to address the variable so that all things are the same?
Ideas:
Balls should be the same brand and all for boys or all for girls
Audience should not participate - be silent
Everyone in audience look at rim and not at players
Have a pre-test to help choose people with the same ability
But the best thing we can do is to have one person shoot all the balls
One person shooting experiment and results:
shooting with overinflated ball - 6/10
shooting with under inflated ball - 6/10
shooting with normally inflated ball - 2/10
Observations:
The energy of player was a factor - deal with this by allowing a break in between; different days, at the same time
What you Should Do Now:
Using this class experiment as an example, begin thinking about an experiment you could create. Keep paper and pencils with you to jot down ideas. Be prepared to discuss your ideas for your experiment in class.
Updated 5/14
