Introduction to Experimental Design

Experimental Design Activity

As the first days of school near, I wanted to share one of my favorite activities that ease students into the scientific method and experimental design. This activity is a guided inquiry paper folding activity that will help student get the cobwebs out of their brains.

There is a common myth that you cannot fold a paper more than seven times. This activity allow students to conduct an investigation to explore this claim.

In the activity students will explore the following vocabulary:

  • prediction
  • independent variable
  • dependent variable
  • bias
  • property
  • standard notation
  • scientific notation
  • hypothesis

Throughout this activity the students explore the scientific method and design an experiment that answers the question: How many time can you fold a piece of 8 1/2in x 11in computer paper? This experimental design activity is a quick hitter that allows you to assess your students abilities and begin to establish lab procedures.

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At the end of the activity student will watch a four minute video from the Mythbusters that will likely change their conclusions.

Paper folding experimental design activity worksheet.

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Click here for the video that goes with this lesson.

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