Lesson 2 of 5 · Scientific Models

Experiment⭐ 30 XP

Using Models to Predict

🧪Lab Brief #2

Scientific Models.

🎯 Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

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Mind = Blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

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Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

What You'll Learn

A model simplifies something too big, too small or too slow to study directly. Its value is that it makes a prediction you can check. Every model is wrong in some way; a useful one is wrong in ways that do not matter for the question asked.

Key Words

Tap a word to see its definition.

Materials Needed

foil tray
soil
watering can
water
small stones

Safety First

Wash hands after handling soil.
Work over a washable surface and mop spills at once.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.

Step 2 — Do

Model a water catchment with a foil tray, soil and a watering can. Predict where water will pool before you pour, then pour and compare. List two ways your model differs from a real hillside.

Step 3 — Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 — Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 2

A model is useful when it:

How sure are you going to be?😐 maybe

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Where you see this in real life

This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

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Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

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For the dinner table

“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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Next Smart Experiment

We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.

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