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www.elmers.com/teachers Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2013
Scientific Investigation Format
A good scientific investigation should follow the scientific method.
I. State a problem to be solved or a question that you will investigate.
Examples: What happens to a plant that grows under a colored light? How does an electrical circuit work? What colors make up white light?
II. Make a hypothesis (a logical guess) suggesting a possible problem or plan of investigation. Examples: The color of the light will not impact plant growth. Circuits must be complete to conduct electricity. White light is made up of more than one color.
III. Test your hypothesis using experimentation, models, or other investigations. Examples: Place three different plants each in a box – one with a white light, one with a red light, and one with a blue light. Create a variety of electrical circuits. Use a prism and sunlight to refract light.
IV. Record your results. Examples: Record the changes in the plants each day. Illustrate the electric circuit and describe which ones worked and which ones didn’t work. Describe what you see when sunlight passes through a prism.
V. State your conclusions. Examples: Plants grow better under white light than under a red light or a blue light. Electric circuits must be connected to a source of electricity and flow through connected conductors. Seven different colors make up white light.
www.elmers.com/teachers Elmer’s Products, Inc. © 2013
Scientific Inquiry Worksheet
Selecting a good science investigation requires some careful thought and planning. Inquiry is an important part of the scientific investigation process. Inquiry activities enable us to design the problem to be solved or the question to be answered and the methods we’ll use. This worksheet will help you get started.
1. General topic: List a few topics that interest you such as temperature, electricity, plants, or soil.
2. Brainstorming: List a few ideas that you would be interested in investigating such as how an electrical circuit works or if different colored lights impact plant growth.
3. Circle the question you’d like to explore.
4. Thinking with pictures: Make sketches, drawings or diagrams on a separate sheet of paper that show how you might explore your question.
5. Materials: What materials will you need?
6. Time: How long will this investigation take? Do you have enough time?
7. Assess your idea: Is this a good scientific investigation? If not, go back to your brainstorming list and select another question.