Lab 1 Assignment

Grade Five: Human Organ Systems

Grade Six: Outer Space
Your lab will be done in groups of two or three. I do not recommend
working alone for this activity.

Research questions:
Grade five:
How does exercise affect body temperature or heart rate? Design an
experiment to test this. You may choose to compare different groups of
people (eg. boys/girls, children/adults, older children/younger children).
Grade six:
How can we safely get to outer space? Design an air-launched rocket
that is lightweight, can carry the most cargo, and can fly a long
distance when it is launched. You may vary the width or length of the
rocket, the materials you build the rocket with, or its wing shape or size
to determine the most efficient rocket. Test at least three different
rocket designs.

Part 1: Planning your experiment

Complete the attached planning sheet and hand it in for approval by
Thursday, October 6th.

Determine a specific research question.

Form a hypothesis.
Describe the steps you will take to do your experiment.
Make a list of all materials and participants that you require for
your experiment.
Explain how you will make sure your experiment is a fair test.
Explain how you will make sure your experiment is safe for
everyone involved.
Create a chart on which you will collect your data.
Grade six: neatly sketch the designs that you plan to test.

Examples of hypotheses
Doing jumping jacks for one minute will increase students body
temperatures. Boys body temperatures will increase more than girls
body temperatures because boys are more active than girls.

Rockets with a long, thin body will fly the furthest with the heaviest
payload because they will encounter less resistance as they go through
the air.
Materials - grade five
Ms. Wiener can provide thermometers (the in-the-mouth kind) and
hygienic protector sleeves for the thermometers if you choose to test
body temperature.
Materials - grade six
Ms. Wiener will provide the air-powered rocket launchers and some
small weights. She can also provide dollar-store materials (popsicle
sticks, straws, Styrofoam cups, etc.). If you need recycled materials
(such as newspaper or toilet rolls), we will let the entire class know so
that your classmates can help you collect these items.

Part 2: Experimenting
You will carry out your experiment in class on October 11th-13th. Record
all of your data on the data chart. You MUST have completed part one
before you can begin experimenting.

Part 3: Writing up your lab

Your finished lab report must contain the following sections:
Results
A clear statement of what you discovered (This experiment
showed that)
A calculation of the mean, median, mode, and range for your
data
Graph(s): a neat graph of your data - this may be done by hand
or on the computer
Conclusion
Use paragraph breaks or subheadings to help readers find
information
Should be written in full sentences
Should answer all relevant guiding questions
**Your lab report must be edited to the best of your ability. It may be
neatly handwritten or typed on an appropriate font. Please use only

one side of the paper for your good draft, since lab reports will be
displayed on posters.**
Guiding questions for conclusions

What factors influenced how far a rocket can travel? What factors
influenced how much weight a rocket can carry? Why do you
think this might be the case? (6)
How did exercise affect a persons heart rate, or body
temperature? Why do you think this might be the case? Did the
results vary between groups of people? Why do you think this
might be the case? (5)
What would you change if you were to do this experiment again?
How might you change the procedure, materials, or participants?
If you were to do this experiment again, what safety precautions
would you add?
What questions do you have after completing this experiment?
What could future experiments investigate?
Do you believe your experiment was a fair test? Why? Why not?
If it wasnt a fair test, how could you make the test fairer?

Success Criteria
Research question and hypothesis

10%

All steps in procedure listed

10%

Complete list of materials and participants

10%

Clear statement of results

10%

Conclusion

20%

Writing and presentation

10%

Process (hands-on experimenting)

30%

Graphs* (bonus)

10%

-One clear and concise research question is identified

-Hypothesis is clearly related to the research question
-Hypothesis is written as statement + because + reason(s)
-Clearly written so that another scientist could replicate your
experiment
-Written as a numbered list
-Includes all materials and participants
-Written as a bulleted list

-Tells what you found and whether your findings confirmed your
hypothesis
-Addresses all relevant guiding questions
-Uses paragraph breaks or subheadings to organize information
-Report is written and edited
-Report includes the names of all group members
-Clear headings help the reader find information
-All rough work is attached to the good draft
-Safety precautions followed
-Cooperative work with group members
-On-task work

-Graph is neat and tidy

-Includes all labels, titles, and legends
-Appropriate type of graph is chosen
-Appropriate intervals for axes are used
-Attach calculations for the mean, median, mode, and range for
your data to your graph(s)
*Your graphing work is a diagnostic assessment for our upcoming data
management unit. The graphing portion of this assignment can get you
up to 10% in extra bonus marks!
A good copy of the lab report, with all rough work attached, must be
handed in on OCTOBER 24TH, 2016.

Part 1: Planning Your Experiment

Research question:

Hypothesis: (Statement + because + reasons)

Procedure (what steps will you take to carry out your

experiment?

Materials and participants (all of the items, tools, and human

volunteers that you need for your experiment)

How will you make sure that your experiment is a fair test?

How will you make sure that your experiment is safe?