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This article is an example of a simple inquiry activity. It is used with permission from a book written for students designing science projects. It is another model to use when introducing your students to inquiry. How could this be adopted to an online project?

Four Question Strategy
From J.H. Cothron, R.N. Giese, & R.J. Rezba. Science Experiments by the Hundreds. 1996. Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co. Dubuque, IA.

Say you're interested in designing an original experiment with liquid drops on coins. The first question to ask yourself is:

1.What materials are readily available for conducting experiments on (liquid drops on coins)?

Possible answers:

• Coins
• Liquids
• Droppers
• People
• Cleaners

The more things you list the better the experiment you will be able to design. Try to pick materials that are inexpensive and easy to find. You may be able to borrow materials from your school, parents, or people in the community. Next ask yourself:

Possible answers:

Liquids heap.

Liquids spill.

Liquids make we circles on paper.

The idea is to brainstorm as many ideas as you can. This is a time to think of all the possibilities. After you have finished brainstorming as many actions as possible, stop. Select the one action upon which you will focus. Continue brainstorming by asking yourself the next question:

What you now have are lists of potential variables or things you could change. The longer the lists, the more choices you have. Each variable you generate is a possible independent variable. Select one variable you want to manipulate (say, the kind of liquid). It will be you independent variable; all the rest must become constants in your experiment. Finally, ask yourself:

Possible answers:

Count the number of drops.

Describe the shape of the liquid on the coin.

Measure the height of the heap.

Measure the diameter of the liquid spill on the paper.

This final question helps you decide how to measure or describe changes in liquids placed on coins. Choose one of the ways to measure or describe the change in the action you selected in Question 2. The quantity or quality you select is the way you will describe or measure you dependant variable.

So, to begin a science project, all you have to do is pick one independent variable from Question 3 and dependant variable from Question 4. Remember what happens to al the other variable from Question 3. You must keep them the same in your experiment; they are your constants.

Last Updated: 3/17/03
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