[jennmcg72]

Last year I did a lesson on the steps of the scientific method using those little sponge animal capsules you can buy at the Dollar Tree or Wal-Mart. I cannot find the lesson and am hoping that someone out has it and would be willing to share. Please!

[Melisa77]

This sounds pretty cool! I hope it turns up, as it sounds like a fun way to teach Scientific Method...

[Phelan]

I googled this and came up w/ the following experiment: Give them the supplies: capsules, cups, timer, liquids- soda, water, liquid soap, lime juice, apple juice, milk (6 groups)
In which liquid will the capsule be absorbed the fastest
Introduce the four steps of the scientific method:
1. Observe
2. Hypothesis
3. Predict
4. Test

Assign students lab partners. Give each group a liquid, capsule and timer. Students will make a hypothesis, predict- test and then chart their results

THis was an abbreviated summary.

Great idea.

We did this experiment in class, we used boiling water, room temp. water and ice cold water! the boiling water broke down the capsule in seconds and the room temp. took about 25 min and the ice cold water, never opened by the time our class was over which is over 30 min. well im sure everyone will enjoy this experiment!

Ward's Scientific sells an entire lab kit for this for about $30. It works really well, but is designed for upper middle/high school aged kids.

Our school is new and we don't have a lab available yet, so I couldn't use the hot/cold water comparison, but I let them choose their testing question between "does stirring affect the rate of growth?" and "does salt water affect the rate of growth?"

hope this helps!

[cassiejgrant]

We are learning about the Scientific Method and variables (control,independent,dependent ). In doing so, I love to incorporate easy-to-do experiments so that the students can independently go through the method in groups.
With the Sponge Capsule experiment I allowed the students to pick a question/problem prior to the lab class. They chose from: 1. Does the temperature of the water affect the rate of growth?
2. Does stirring the water affect the rate of growth?
3. Does the type of water, salt or tap, affect the rate of growth?

They then set up their experiment independently with this lab sheet:

Name:_________________________ Date:________Mod:___ ____Hmrm:________

CAPSULE CREATURES:

Problem (question you are asking):______________________ __________________

______________________________ ____________________ ___________________
Hypothesis (educated guess): If____________________________ _____________,
then__________________________ ____________________ ___________________.

Experiment:
Materials:
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.

CONTROLLED VARIABLE(not changed):_____________________ _______________
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE(what’s causing the change):______________________ _________
DEPENDENT VARIABLE (observed effect/result):______________________ ___________

Procedure:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.





Results: (choose a method: table,chart,or graph)








































Conclusion(2 sentences): 1. My hypothesis was correct/incorrect. 2.__________ ______________________________ ____________________ ______________