Design Detective

Analyze each scenario at each station.

Identify the variables: Independent variable,
Dependent variable and Constants, and
write a hypothesis

Scenario 1: Compost and Bean

Plants
After studying about recycling, members of Johns biology class
investigated the effect of various recycled products on plant growth. Johns
lab group compared the effect of different aged grass compost on bean
plants. Because of decomposition is necessary for release of nutrients, the
group hypothesized that older grass compost would produce taller bean
plants. Three flats of bean plants (25 plants per flat) were grown for five
days. The plants were then fertilized as follows: (a) Flat A: 450 grams of 3
month-old compost, (b) Flat B: 450 grams of 6-month-old compost, (c) Flat
C: 0 grams of compost. The plants received the same amount of sunlight
and water each day. At the end of 30 days the group recorded the height of
the plants (cm).

Scenario 1: Compost and Bean Plants

What is composting?
Composting is Natures way of
recycling and is one of the best and
easiest things you can do to reduce
waste and grow healthy and
sustainable garden or houseplants.

Amount of compost

Average height of
plants

0 grams of compost

4 cm

450 g of 3 month old

compost

6.5 cm

450 g of 6 month old

compost

8 cm

Scenario 2: Fossils and Cliff Depth

Susan observed that different kinds and amounts of fossils
were present in a cliff behind her house. She wondered if
changes in fossil content occurred from the top to the
bottom of the the bank. She marked the bank at five
positions: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 meters from the surface.
She removed on bucket of soil from each of the positions
and determined the kind and number of fossils in each
sample.

Scenario 2: Fossils and Cliff Depth

Depth of soil sample

Count of fossils found

in sample

5m

10m

10

15m

20m

25m

5 m
10 m

15 m

20 m

25 m-->
Fossil: An animal or plant that lived many thousands
of years ago and that has been preserved or the
shape of one of these animals or plants that has been
preserved in rock.

Examples of small
fossils

Scenario 3: Aloe vera and Planaria

Jackie read that Aloe vera promoted healing of burned
tissue. She decided to investigate the effect of varying
amounts of Aloe vera on the regeneration of planaria. She
bisected the planaria to obtain 10 parts (5 heads and 5
tails) for each experimental group. Fifteen milliliters of Aloe
vera solutions were applied. All planaria were maintained in
a growth chamber with identical food temperature, and
humidity. On day 15, Jackie observed the regeneration of
the planaria parts and categorized development as full,
partial and none.

Scenario 3: Aloe Vera and Planaria

Planaria: A widow on regeneration
We humans prefer to avoid getting our limbs cut off.
Once your arm is gone, thats it. But life is different as
a planaria. Lose a leg? Grow a new one. The same
thing happens for starfish, lobsters, and surprising
number of other animals. Snails can even regrow their
heads- imagine what the world would be like if
humans could do that.

Planarian- mostly free-living

flatworms.
Bisect- to divide something
into two equal parts.

Concentration of
Aloe Vera

Count of
regenerated
Planaria

0%

10%

20%

30%

Aloe Vera Plant