Scientific Method Lab: How Many Petals Are Around A Rose?

Purpose: Introduction to scientific method

Introduction: The game, "Petals Around the Rose," was created by Dr. Richard Duke at the University of Michigan. Dr. Duke used to begin each of his gaming/simulation courses with this exercise. While some students would solve the problem right away, others would struggle all semester. It had taken Dr. Duke well over a year himself, and he would always explain that the smarter you were, the longer it took to figure it out.The game is quite simple. Only a basic understanding of math is required and an open and creative mind. The game can be used as an example of how different people look at the world differently, and how these different ways of looking can yield different answers. This game can also be used to explore patterns and relationships in science. In "Petals Around the Rose," there is always one correct answer. The problem is how we define the problem.Problem: What is the relationship between a rose petal and dice?

Hypothesis: ______

______

Materials: board, 5 dice, paper

Procedure:

  1. Record everything you know about roses and their petals in your lab notebook.
  2. Record everything you know about dice in your lab notebook.
  3. Roll the 5 dice.
  4. Draw your dice roll on the board.
  5. Record your predicted and actual answer in a chart in your lab notebook (See the example below).
  6. Determine the relationship between dice and petals.
  7. Answer the conclusion questions in complete sentences.

Data:

Table a: Prior Observations

Prior Knowledge of Dice / Prior Knowledge of a Rose

Table 2:

Picture of Dice Roll / Predicted # of Petals on Rose / Actual # of Petals on Rose
Roll #1:
Roll #2:
Roll #3:
Roll #4:
Roll #5:

Results: Relate the relationship between dice and petals

______

______

Discussion/Conclusions:

  1. Draw conclusions
  2. What is the scientific method?
  3. How is the scientific method used in this activity?
  4. Is the scientific method the only technique that scientist use to gather data?
  5. What is a hypothesis?
  6. What was your hypothesis/prediction in the activity?
  7. What is an experiment?
  8. In an experiment, what is the constant?
  9. What is the constant in the above experiment?
  10. What is a control?
  11. What is the control in this experiment?
  12. What is an independent variable?
  13. What is a dependent variable?
  14. What is the independent variable in this experiment?
  15. What is the dependent variable in the experiment?
  16. What is a theory?
  17. Could you make a theory in this experiment?
  18. What is a scientific law?
  19. How can scientific laws be changed?
  20. Can a law be formed from this experimental data?

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