Control Groups in Experiments

Lab Brief #1

🎯 Your mission

Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.

⚡ The twist

The first design always fails. That's the point.

What you'll learn

A controlled experiment compares an experimental group that receives the treatment with a control group that does not. The control group acts as a baseline, so any difference in results can be traced to the variable being tested.

Key words

variable
Anything in an experiment that can change.
control
The part of an experiment kept the same for comparison.
experiment
A careful test done to learn something or answer a question.

Make a hypothesis first

Guess: what's the weakest part of this build?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Design an experiment to test a hypothesis. Identify your independent variable, dependent variable, and controls. Run the experiment and present results.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Watch carefully for any changes and note the time.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Create a data table to organize your measurements.

Question 1 of 3

What makes a good scientific investigation?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

What is a scientific model?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What is the dependent variable?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🚀 The Saturn V rocket burned 20 tons of fuel per second at liftoff.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: Quadrats and Estimating Populations All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

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

✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: Your phone, your bike, your shoes — all designed with this idea.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Build something — anything — out of stuff in your recycling bin.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's something around the house you'd redesign — and how?”

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Control Groups in Experiments

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