Learning Goals
Students will be able to formulate a testable question about paper towel absorbency or strength and identify the independent, dependent, and controlled variables needed for a fair test.
Students will be able to design a fair investigation procedure that compares paper towel brands using repeated trials and consistent measurement conditions.
Students will be able to collect and document quantitative absorbency and strength data across multiple trials in organized tables and research notes.
Students will be able to calculate averages from repeated paper towel trials and represent results in accurate bar graphs with labeled axes and appropriate scales.
Students will be able to analyze patterns in absorbency and strength data to determine which paper towel brand performed best under the tested conditions.
Students will be able to construct a Claim-Evidence-Reasoning explanation that justifies a conclusion using numerical evidence and scientific ideas about paper towel materials and structure.
Students will be able to evaluate the fairness, limitations, and reliability of their investigation and revise procedures based on peer critique and anomalous findings.
Products
Paper Towel Investigation Notebook
A personal research notebook documenting the student’s question, variables, procedure decisions, trial tables, calculations, graphs, and written analysis. It shows individual mastery of how to run a fair test and interpret results from absorbency and strength trials.
Towel Trials Museum Comparison Board and Gallery Walk Presentation
A team investigation report displayed as a comparison board with shared data, graphs, methodology rationale, conclusions, limitations, and new questions. The gallery walk presentation requires each team to synthesize individual evidence into one defensible claim about which paper towel performed best.
No rubric has been generated yet.