a lab to allow students to practice the scientific method and experimental design at the 9th grade level

1. VITRUVIAN MAN
Scientific Method and Experimental Design
Investigation

2. Objective
• Design an experiment, identifying your dependent and
independent variables, to test a Vitruvian theory

3. Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci

4. Your task
• With your lab team:
• Choose 1 of Vitruvius’
theories to test
The Vitruvian Man - Scientific Method Activity
Vitruvius, a Renaissance architect, described the dimensions of the human body. They
are listed below. His theory was illustrated by the artist and scientist, Leonardo Di Vinci
in the year 1490.
Your task is to design an experiment to test one of more of Vitruvius’s theories. You
need to propose a problem and hypothesis, decide what materials you will need to test
your hypothesis, design a procedure, collect data (repeated trials), analyze and graph
your data, discuss your data (and any possible sources of error) and draw conclusions.
Finally, you will share your information with the class.
Vitruvius’s Theories
 From fingertip to fingertip, the span of a person’s arms is equal to his/her height.
 From the roots of the hair to the bottom of the chin is the tenth of a person’s
height
 From the bottom of the chin to the top of the head is one eighth of a person’s
height
 The distance from the bottom of the chin to the nose and from the roots of the
hair to the eyebrows should be equal, each comprising 1/3 the length of the face.
 From the bottom of the knee to the bottom of the foot is equal to ¼ of a person’s
height.
 The distance from the outer edge of one shoulder to the outer edge of the
opposite shoulder is equal to ¼ of a person’s height.

5. Your task
• With your lab team:
• Ask a question about the
theory
• e.g. “Is it accurate to say that
from the bottom of the knee to
the bottom of the foot is equal
to ¼ of a person’s height?”

6. Your task
• With your lab team:
• Propose a hypothesis about the question in the “if…, then...” format
• e.g. If 20 people are measured for knee to foot length and overall
height, then 100% of the people will have a knee to foot lenght that is ¼
their height.”

7. Your task
• With your lab team:
• Decide what materials you will need and describe how you will
collect your data (your procedure)
• What is your independent variable?
• What is your dependent variable?

8. Your task
• With your lab team:
• Gather your data
• Your team needs to be consistent with HOW you gather data
• Measure in centimeters or inches?
• From what part to what part?
• Shoes or no shoes?

9. Your task
• With your lab team:
• Discuss and analyze your data
• Put your data into a table
• Make a graph of your data
• Draw conclusions about your hypothesis based on the data you
collected

10. Theory 1
• From fingertip to fingertip, the span of a person’s arms is
equal to his/her height. (are they equal?)

11. Theory 2
• From the roots of the hair to the bottom of the chin is the
tenth of a person’s height (if you multiple this distance by
10, is it the same as their height?)

12. Theory 3
• From the bottom of the chin to the top of the head is one
eighth of a person’s height (if you take their height and
divide by 8, does that equal this distance?)

13. Theory 4
• The distance from the bottom of the chin to the nose and
from the roots of the hair to the eyebrows should be
equal, each comprising 1/3 the length of the face. (are
they equal?)

14. Theory 5
• From the bottom of the knee to the bottom of the foot is
equal to ¼ of a person’s height. (if you multiple this
distance by 4, does it equal their height?)

15. Theory 6
• The distance from the outer edge of one shoulder to the
outer edge of the opposite shoulder is equal to ¼ of a
person’s height. (if you multiple this distance by 4, does it
equal their height?)

16. SCIENCE
MINI-POSTER LAB
PRESENTATIONS

17. Your task
• With your lab team:
• Put all of your work into a mini-poster to share with the class

18. Your Goal
• Work with your team to:
• Graph your results
• Analyze your results
• Draw conclusions about your hypothesis
• Identify any sources of error

19. Mini-Poster Set-up
7 areas:
1. Title
2. Introduction: write the purpose of the lab here
3. Hypothesis: write the hypothesis
4. Methodology: materials and procedure
5. Results: data table and graph
6. Conclusion: explain the results and state
whether you accept or reject the hypothesis
7. Critique: includes sources of error

20. Graph your results
Name of person measured Length of wingspan_ Length of _height___
1. Amy 160 160
2. Ben 174 172
3. Carla 144 144
4. Diego 185 180
5. Emily 151 151
6. Frank 147 147
7. Gina 136 140
8. Hector 167 167
9. Ivan 185 185
10. Jasmine 155 160
How do I graph this?

21. Pie chart

22. Bar Graph