Activity: Designing an Experiment Directions: In this activity, you will design a sample experiment to help you prepare

for labs that you will complete later in this course. Read the following sample problem and complete each step of the experimental process, as outlined below. Record all of your ideas in your science journal.

Sample Problem: A television commercial claims that plants treated with BigLeaves
Solution, a fertilizer, will grow bigger and faster than plants not treated with the product. Design an experiment to help you determine if the commercials claim is valid. *Note: you will not actually perform the experiment you design.

Sample Experimental Steps:

1. Identify the Problem: State the problem that the experiment should test/address. 2. Form a Hypothesis: Determine your answer to the problem listed above. 3. List Possible Materials: Create a list of materials that you would need if you were to actually complete the experiment. 4. Write the Experimental Procedure: List and explain, in order, each step that you would need to follow if you were to actually complete the experiment. 5. Create a Data Display: Describe how you might present the data you would collect if you were to actually complete the experiment.

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