Crafting Effective Science Questions: Key Guidelines for Experiments
When creating a science question, ensure it meets essential criteria. Consider the checklist items and ensure you are testing something measurable. A good question should lead to an experiment, not a demonstration. For example, “How do different dissolved substances affect the evaporation rate of water?” is a testable question with clear independent and dependent variables. In contrast, “How can I make a lava lamp?” is not suitable as it does not involve experimentation. Remember to define your independent and dependent variables to formulate a valid scientific inquiry.
Crafting Effective Science Questions: Key Guidelines for Experiments
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Presentation Transcript
When you are creating your question: • Make sure to think about the items on the checklist • Make sure you are testing something: • Ask Yourself: what is the experiment that will go with my question. 3. A Demonstration is not an experiment!
Example: Good Question • How do different dissolved substances affect the evaporation rate of water? • Experiment is dissolving different substances and timing how fast water evaporates • Does the type of shampoo affect how often my dog scratches himself during the day • Experiment is washing dog with different types of shampoos and recording how often he scratches himself
Example: Bad Questions • How can I make a lava lamp? • Making a lava lamp is not an experiment • How do plants grow? • Watching plants grow is not testing anything • What color water grows plants the best? • This is an experiment but it is too easy for your grade level and is not in our topic list.
When making up your question remember you need to have: • Independent Variable: The thing that you will change • Dependent Variable: the thing that will change when you change the independent. If you don’t have an independent and dependent variable, then you don’t have a question!
![[type your question here]](https://cdn1.slideserve.com/2369677/type-your-question-here-dt.jpg)
