Planning Tests and Building Solutions

You will learn how to plan and carry out an investigation, and how to design a solution to a problem.

Scientists do two main kinds of investigations. In a descriptive investigation, you observe something carefully and write down what you notice, without changing anything. In an experimental investigation, you change one thing on purpose to see what happens. Both kinds start with a question you really want to answer.

Imagine your school garden in Texas. The bluebonnets on one side look taller than the ones on the other side. First you might do a descriptive investigation. You measure the plants, count the flowers, and write down what the soil looks like. You are just collecting information.

Then you might ask a new question. Does more water make the plants grow taller? Now you plan an experiment. You give one group of plants a cup of water each day and the other group two cups each day. Everything else stays the same, like the soil, the sunlight, and the kind of seed. That way, you know water is the only thing that changed. You measure the plants every week, record the numbers, and look for a pattern.

Sometimes you are solving a problem instead of answering a question. That is engineering. Maybe the hot Texas sun is drying out your plants. You could design a shade cover using cardboard and sticks, build it, test it, and then improve it if it falls over. Testing and fixing your design is a normal part of the work, not a mistake.

No matter which path you take, you must stay safe. Wear goggles when you need them, follow directions, and tell your teacher about spills or broken items.

Try it: If you wanted to test whether a paper towel brand soaks up more water, what one thing would you change and what would you keep the same?