Example: 1. Problem: I want to know if a bean plant will grow more quickly outside or inside.
Which will grow more quickly in the period of 3 weeks - a bean plant placed outside or a bean plant
placed inside?
2. Research: Look up the best temperatures for seed germination
3. Hypothesis:
Plants will grow more quickly outside in a period of 3 weeks.
4. Design a Controlled Experiment: Test the hypothesis and data collection
a. Plant 4 bean plants in same sized pots with the same type of soil.
b. Place two in an outdoor location and two in an indoor location.
c. Each day, for 3 weeks, observe and measure plant growth. Ensure that plants receive equal amounts
of water.
5. Collect and Organize Data
Plant
Plant
Height
Plant Height Week 3
Height
Week 1
Plant
Height
Week 2
Total Plant
Growth
Day 0
Plant 1
Indoor
Plant 2
Indoor
Plant 3
Outdoor
Plant 4
Outdoor
6. Analyze data
Create a graph of the plant growth of the 2 different conditions to determine how plants in both
environments progressed in two weeks.
7. Draw conclusion
Based on data, determine if there is a conclusive answer to the question of whether a bean plant placed
outside or inside will grow more quickly.
8. Communicate results
Orally or in written form share the results of the experiment.