Name: ________________________________________________ Class: ______________
Episode Title: __________________________________________
Focused Science Skill: _The Scientific method_______
Directions: The Mythbuster Team does an AWESOME job of working through
the scientific method throughout each episode. In fact, they usually show the
process two or three times as they test different myths. While you watch the
video today, you will need to pick one myth to follow throughout the episode
and answer the questions that coordinate with the steps in the scientific
method. You only need to follow ONE MYTH...so choose wisely!
PURPOSE: Pick one myth to watch closely. State the myth as a QUESTION on the lines below.
Does talking bad or good affect a plant?
research: What facts helped the team design their experiment? List THREE or more.
HYPOTHESIS: What is your prediction for the myth? Write your hypothesis BEFORE watching the rest of the
episode and tell if you think the myth will be confirmed (proven) or busted (disproven) and why.
I think the myth will be busted because i’ve seen my mom do that to her plants and nothing happened.
They grew the same size as the picture was when she planted the seeds.
Experiment: What are some steps the team did to test the myth? List FIVE or more steps in number order.
1. Buy seeds. 2. Plant them in a pot. 3. Keep 10 pots in a greenhouse with a water source. 4. Play a
tape of an angry person badmouthing the plant, or play a tape of a happy person complimenting the
plant. 5. Wait a while and check the results.
Experiment continued: Identify the different variables used throughout the test.
What was the INDEPENDENT variable?
Playing tapes.
What was the DEPENDENT variable?
Hoping the plants grow.
Created and copyrighted by Kara Doenges (Observations of a TeacherNerd) in 2015 ©
What were some of the CONTROL variables? (list TWO or more)
Watering the plants. Playing a tape of people talking badly or good about the plant.
Analysis: What are some observations you and the team made during the test? List THREE.
1. The nasty plants grew less than the good plants.
2. The water wasn’t working
How did the team record and share their data throughout the experiment? Be specific.
They used charts and weight analysis, and also just looked at the plants to record and share data.
conclusion: Was your hypothesis correct? Write a conclusion for the myth using the prediction you made.
Be sure to include specific evidence from the episode.
My hypothesis was not correct because there was some difference in the plants that were bad-mouthed
and the ones that were sweet-talked. The conclusion is that it is plausible that talking to plants does help
growth.
Created and copyrighted by Kara Doenges (Observations of a TeacherNerd) in 2015 ©
