Activities

1. You have completed an experiment to find out if the size of a fish tank affects how large a fish will grow.  You have concluded that the size of the tank does impact fish growth.  Your friend, Tanner, did the same experiment.  However, he concluded that the size of the tank does not impact fish growth.  What should you do to come to an accurate conclusion?

2. What evidence would you use to explain Earth’s seasons?
   
   
3. What evidence would you use to explain the relationship between the amount of sunlight a plant receives and its growth?

4. Sam collected the information below about the absorbency of different brands of paper towels.  Which brand of paper towel would you recommend to a buyer?  Why?

5. Based on the data below, Carla concluded that the price of tickets affected the number of people who attended a concert.  Do you agree with her?  Why or why not?

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • Compare data.
   • Make sure you and Tanner only tested one independent variable and all other variables were constant.
   • Repeat the experiment together.

2.  Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • The Earth revolves around the Sun.
   • The Earth’s axis is tilted at about 26°.
   • Depending on the Earth’s position in its revolution, either the Northern or Southern hemisphere of Earth is tilted toward the Sun.
   • The hemisphere of Earth that is tilted toward the Sun receives more direct sunlight and experiences summer.
   • The hemisphere of Earth that is tilted away from the Sun receives less direct sunlight and experiences winter.
     
     
3. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • Plants create their own food through photosynthesis.
   • Plants need sunlight to perform photosynthesis.
   • If a plant gets the appropriate amount of sunlight, it will successfully perform photosynthesis, and it will grow.
   • If a plant does not get enough sunlight, it cannot perform photosynthesis, and it will die.
   • If a plant gets too much sunlight, it will wither from the heat, and it will die.

4. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • Brand A and B held the same average amount of liquid.
   • Brand A held the most liquid in one trial.
   • Brand B was the most consistent.
   • Brand D was the least absorbent.
     
     
5. Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
   • Pitbull had the second most expensive ticket.
   • Pitbull had the lowest attendance.
   • Pitbull’s concert was on a Wednesday night.
   • Selena Gomez had the least expensive ticket.
   • Selena Gomez did not have the largest attendance.
   • Billy Joel had the most expensive ticket.
   • Billy Joel had the second largest attendance.
   • One Direction’s concert was on Saturday night.
   • One Direction had the second least expensive ticket.
   • Carla’s results are unreliable.
   • Attendance could have been affected by the day of the week.
   • One Direction may have more fans than Pitbull.
   • The income of the people in the surrounding areas may have affected ticket sales.