This game correlates to the SC 5th Grade Standards for scientific method.

1. The Scientific
Method Jeopardy
Questioning Hypothesizing Variables Experimenting Wild Card
Q $100 Q $100 Q $100 Q $100 Q $100
Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200
Q $300 Q $300 Q $300 Q $300 Q $300
Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400
Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500
Final Jeopardy

2. $100 Question - Questioning
A student asks the question, “What is a plant?”
Why is this NOT a testable question?

3. $100 Answer - Questioning
Because it cannot be answered through an
investigation.

4. $200 Question - Questioning
Give an example of a question that is NOT
testable.

5. $200 Answer - Questioning
Student answers will vary. The question should
be one that could NOT be answered through
conducting an investigation using the steps of
the Scientific Method.

6. $300 Question - Questioning
Give an example of a question that IS a
testable question.

7. $300 Answer - Questioning
Student answers will vary. The question
should be one that could be answered through
conducting an investigation using the steps of
the Scientific Method.

8. $400 Question - Questioning
Read the following question: “Do plants
need sunlight to live?” Is this a testable
question? If not, tell why. If yes, explain how
the investigation would be conducted.

9. $400 Answer - Questioning
Yes, it is a testable question. Two similar plants
would be used. One would be placed in sunlight
and the other would be kept completely out of
sunlight. Both plants would be in the same sized
pot, with the same amount and type of soil, and
given the same amount of water each day.

10. $500 Question - Questioning
Read the following question: “What is the
favorite t.v. show of Old Pointe 5th Grade
students?” Is this a testable question? If not, tell
why. If yes, explain how the investigation would
be conducted.

11. $500 Answer - Questioning
No, it is not a testable question. It would only
require that the students be asked their
favorite t.v. shows. The results would then be
counted. This is only making observations, not
conducting an investigation.

12. $100 Question - Hypothesizing
At what point in the Scientific Method does the
Step of hypothesis occur?

13. $100 Answer - Hypothesizing
After formulating a question, before
investigating/experimenting.

14. $200 Question - Hypothesizing
In order for a hypothesis to be stated correctly,
it must be stated like it is a _______________.

15. $200 Answer - Hypothesizing
Fact.
Hypotheses are not supposed to sound like
guesses. They should sound like true, factual
statements. Then, the point of the experiment/
investigation phase is to prove the hypothesis
statement to be either correct or incorrect.

16. $300 Question - Hypothesizing
A student stated the following hypothesis:
“An object that is pushed with equal force will
travel less distance on a rough surface and
greater distance on a smooth surface.”
Is the hypothesis stated correctly? Why or why
not?

17. $300 Answer - Hypothesizing
Yes, it is stated as a fact. Next, the student will
conduct an experiment to prove their hypothesis
to be accurate or inaccurate.

18. $400 Question - Hypothesizing
A student stated the following hypothesis:
“An object that is pushed with less force will
probably travel less distance than the same
object when it is pushed with a greater force
if the objects are on the same surface.”
Is the hypothesis stated correctly? Why or why
not?

19. $400 Answer - Hypothesizing
No, it is not stated correctly. The word
probably makes it so that it is not stated as a fact.

20. $500 Question - Hypothesizing
A class was given the task of answering the
following question by using the Scientific
method: “Which type of fertilizer will make a
tomato plant grow the most: compost, cow
manure, or a store bought brand?”
Give an example of a hypothesis that could be
stated for this investigation.

21. $500 Answer - Hypothesizing
Student answers will vary.
Ex: “Tomato plants grow the most when
fertilized with compost.”

22. $100 Question - Variables
Name the three types of variables that need to
be considered in an experiment.

23. $100 Answer - Variables
Independent, dependent, and controlled variables.

24. $200 Question - Variables
Explain what controlled variables are in an
experiment.

25. $200 Answer - Variables
Controlled variables are the aspects that are kept
the same for all trials. For example, if an
experiment is designed to test how the amount of
water affects a plant’s growth, then the type of
plant, type and amount of soil, size of pot, and
amount of sunlight must be kept the same. These
are controlled variables.

26. $300 Question - Variables
What is an independent variable in an
experiment?

27. $300 Answer - Variables
An independent variable is the aspect of the
experiment that is being tested. For example, if
an experiment is designed to test how the amount
of water affects the growth of a plant, then the
different amounts of water given to the plants is
independent variable. It is the thing that is being
tested to see what its affects are.

28. $400 Question - Variables
What is a dependent variable in an experiment?

29. $400 Answer - Variables
A dependent variable is the aspect of an
experiment that changes due to the differences
in the independent variable. For example, if
an experiment is designed to test how the amount
of water affects the growth of a plant, then the
differences in how much the plants grow is the
dependent variable because the growth will
depend on the amount of water given.

30. $500 Question - Variables
A student wants to find out whether a foam cup
or a metal mug keeps water warmer. He fills the
two kinds of cups with the same amount of hot
water, making sure that the water in each cup
begins at the same temperature. He waits 15
minutes, then measures the temperature of the
water in each cup.
Name the independent, dependent, and controlled
variables in the experiment.

31. $500 Answer - Variables
Independent Variable: The type of cup
Dependent Variable: The temperature of the
water after 15 minutes
Controlled Variables: Same amount of water in
each cup, same beginning temperature of water,
temperature taken again at exactly 15 minutes in
both cups, same thermometer used.

32. $100 Question - Experimenting

33. $100 Answer - Experimenting
C – The object traveled 30 meters in 3 minutes.

34. $200 Question - Experimenting
A C
B D

35. $200 Answer - Experimenting
C – This table gives the most accurate data
about when the plants were measured. The
information in the other tables is not as
specific, thus it is difficult to draw conclusions
from them.

36. $300 Question - Experimenting

37. $300 Answer - Experimenting
B – 80 km. After traveling 80 km, the object
stopped for an hour, between hours 2 and 3.

38. $400 Question - Experimenting
What should Hannah do next to have useful information for her mother?
B. Record when the seeds sprout and begin to grow.
C. Make sure the seeds have enough sunlight.
D. Predict which seeds will sprout.

39. $400 Answer - Experimenting
A – Record when the seeds sprout and begin to
grow.

40. $500 Question - Experimenting

41. $500 Answer - Experimenting
C – During the fourth minute. The fourth minute
occurred between minute 3 and 4. During this
minute, the airplane traveled the greatest
distance, thus it flew the fastest during this time.

42. $100 Question – Wild Card

43. $100 Answer – Wild Card
H – Make graphs and diagrams.

44. $200 Question – Wild Card
Which is a quantitative observation?
A. The car took 6 seconds to roll across the desk.
B. The car is red.
C. The birds made their nests in apple trees.
D. The colder the air, the slower mold will grow on fruit.

45. $200 Answer – Wild card
A – The car took 6 seconds to roll across the
desk.
This is a quantitative observation because it
relates to an amount, or quantity, of
something.

46. $300 Question – Wild card
Which question could be answered with
qualitative observations?
A. How tall is the plant?
B. How do the plant’s flowers smell?
C. How many leaves are on the plant?
D. How deep are the plant’s roots?

47. $300 Answer – Wild Card
B – How do the plant’s flowers smell?
This is a quality about the plant. All of the other
choices related to some quantity (number)
characteristic of the plant.

48. $400 Question – Wild Card
Study the table:
Growth of Corn and Bean Plants
Plant Starting Height Ending Height How Much it
(After 2 Weeks) Grew
Corn A 10 cm 16 cm 6 cm
Corn B 14 cm 19 cm 5 cm
Bean A 11 cm 21 cm 10 cm
Bean B 13 cm 22 cm 9 cm
Which is a valid conclusion based on the data?
B. Corn takes longer to get ripe than beans do.
C. Bean plants need more sunlight to grow than corn plants do.
D. Bean plants grow faster than corn plants.
D. Corn plants grow faster than bean plants.

49. $400 Answer – Wild Card
C – Bean plants grow faster than corn plants.
The bean plants combined for 19 cm of growth,
while the corn plants combined for 11 cm of
growth.

50. $500 Question – Wild Card

51. $500 Answer – Wild Card
D – Neither runner.

52. Final Jeopardy
Think of a question that could tested. Design
the investigation. Make sure to include a
possible hypothesis, and to list the independent,
dependent, and controlled variables. You do not
need to analyze, draw conclusions, or
communicate results since these would require
performing the investigation.

53. Final Jeopardy Answer
Answers will vary. Students should display
the ability to identify a testable question, as
well as explain how the investigation would
be set up and conducted. Independent,
dependent, and controlled variables should
be accurately identified.