Students will launch the paper towel investigation by analyzing an intentionally unfair comparison, identifying key variables that affect fairness, and drafting a testable question with a controlled-variables plan that sets up later investigation work.

Students will refine a fair paper towel investigation by turning observations from the flawed test into testable questions, controlled procedures, and usable data tables for repeated trials. They will compare stronger and weaker methods, critique one another’s plans, and revise their investigation materials before beginning formal testing in the next phase.

Students will carry out their paper towel investigation plans by collecting repeated absorbency and strength data, documenting measurements clearly, checking the fairness and consistency of their methods, and revising procedures when evidence or peer critique shows reliability problems.

Students will turn their paper towel trial data into clear visual evidence, analyze patterns and anomalies, draft and revise a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning explanation, evaluate the fairness and limits of their investigation, and prepare the team comparison board for the Towel Trials Museum.

Students will present their Towel Trials Museum comparison boards to classmates, families, and school visitors, defend their conclusions with data, gather evidence-based audience feedback, and complete a final individual reflection on how their investigation design, analysis, and revisions improved the fairness and reliability of their results.