1. District Science Pacing Guide 2012-2013 Grade 5 Quarter 1 Topic 6
Supplementary Resource
Grade 5 Quarter 1 Essential Lab # 4 Which brand of paper towels do you think is best?
For questions and/ or concerns about doing a science fair project, holding a school science fair or on the District Science Fair contact Dr. Millard Lightburn, Sylvia Viquez or Mary Tweedy.
For questions, comments, and/or additional suggestions on this lesson, feel free to contact Mary Tweedy, Curriculum Support Specialist, Division of Science at

2. Which brand of paper towels do you think is best?
Viva
Bounty
Brawny
Publix Ultra
Sparkle
Scott
GreenWise

3. How are the paper towels different?
Cost
Ply
Absorbency
Strength
Texture
Content
Get a notebook to record all information collected for your project.
Talk about which ones are used at home and at school. How are they different? (cost, content, ply, absorbency, strength, etc.) Have they seen print and/or TV ads for paper towels?

4. Paper Towels Brand Cost Per Sq. Ft. * Price* # of Rolls Ply Claims
Engage continued (Research background information)
Give each group of students a roll of paper towels so that each group has a different brand to present to the class.
Students can: observe a single sheet and describe its properties; read the package for facts and claims(advertisement info). If online access is available, groups can look for more information. For example, The World’s Strongest Paper Towel: Another slide could be added to share additional background information on the different brands.

5. Paper Towel Comparisons Sample * Cost and price from Publix’s 6/11/11
Brand
Cost Per Sq. Ft.
Ply
Claims
Bounty
3.28 cents* 2
Quicker picker upper, reuseble, durable, quilted, flower print,
Brawny
2.92 cents*
Soft and strong, flex tech embossed design, strength and durablity, premium performance
GreenWise
1.69 cents*
Strong, soft, free of ink, dyes, frangances, 100% recycable
Publix Ultra
1.33 cents*
Ultra absorbent, folds easily, colorful
Scott
2.53 cents*
Sparkle
2.17 cents*
Registered thirst pockets, advantage of no color
Viva
4.00 cents* 1
Cloth like, soft, strong,

6. Which paper towel is best
Which paper towel is best? Using the Scientific Method Scott Foresman pp. xxvi-xxvii
Scientific Method
Ask a question
Do research
Form hypothesis
Identify the variables
Gather materials
Identify the procedures
Conduct the experiment
Collect and record data
Analyze data/results
Draw conclusions
Communicate results
Identify new questions
This 5 E’s lesson asks students to consider a concept that is subjective and then develop an experiment that is testable and repeatable. It develops critical-thinking skills and an understanding of the use of the Scientific Method as a guide to inquiry.
Show students various brands of paper towels with purchase prices (name brands, store brands, school paper towels) and ask them “Which brand of paper towels do you think is best? Ask them to explain their responses.

7. Online Sources
The World’s Strongest Paper Towel:
How to Test Paper Towels Absorbency:
Check on line for information on paper towels and for specific brand name ads.

8. Plan a test to determine the best paper towel
Plan a test to determine the best paper towel. Will you test absorbency or strength or …?
Problem Statement: One testable question that can be answered by performing an experiment.
Hypothesis (“If (I do this) then (this) will happen.”)
Test(Independent/manipulated) Variable
Outcome(Dependent/responding) Variable or what you plan to measure and how
Control(Constant) Variables or all the factors to be kept the same in the experiment
List of materials you think you will need
Engage cont. Show students a variety of materials you have collected that are available for testing to see which paper towel is best. You’ll need to include measuring cups, graduated cylinders, droppers, rulers, stopwatches, scissors, balances, gram cubes, pennies, marbles, hand lens, deli containers, plastic bowls, rubber bands, blue trays, and anything else you can think of that could be used. Tell students they will not need to use all of the materials.
Break students into groups and tell them you want them to come up with a test to determine the “best” paper towel. Students use their science notebooks/journals to record all investigation information. Students must come up with the following:
Their testable question
Their hypothesis
Their independent/manipulated variable
What they plan to measure and how (dependent/responding variable)?
List of materials they think they will need.

9. Finalize the Investigation
Write your procedures or the steps you will
follow in your experiment.
Each procedure step needs to be numbered.
Each step needs to begin with a verb.
Check procedures to insure that all variables are kept the same (constant) except the one you are testing (independent/manipulated).
Collect the materials needed for the experiment.
Create data tables.
Explore: Students work in their assigned groups to set up their experimental design (variables, procedures, materials) Walk around them and offer assistance as needed, checking to make sure their hypothesis and experimental design is complete with materials listed in their notebooks.
If a student group needs additional help with the procedures, the following may be offered for students as a start:
To test absorbency: Roll a measured piece of towel (14x14cm)and dip into a graduated cylinder (50mLcapapcity) with a specific amount of water (30 mL) for 10 seconds. Remove and read the amount of water left in the graduated cylinder. Find the difference (amount absorbed)
To test strength: Secure a measured piece of towel (16x16cm) with a rubber band over a “deli” plastic container. Pour a measured amount of water (5mL) to wet the towel. Pennies or marbles can be added one at a time, until the towel breaks. Then count the number of pennies or marbles the towel held. The number of pennies or marbles can be converted to grams.
Or they can go online for additional ideas for paper towel tests.

10. Data ______________________ Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average Paper
Towel
Brand
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average

11. Conduct the Experiment
Start the experiment to test your hypothesis.
Observe and record the quantitative data (numbers or measurements) collected during the experiment on a data table.
Repeat the experiment three or more times to confirm results.
Graph your data from all trials. (Dry Mix)
Restate your data in a narrative form as the Results.
Explore cont. Students then conduct their investigation and collect/record data in their notebooks.
Give each group a large presentation size sticky note to present their groups’ data (evidence) to the class.

12. Data

13. Drawing Conclusions
What was investigated? (Describe the problem statement.)
Restate your hypothesis, and tell if
it was supported(true) or not supported (false).
What were the major findings? (Explain your results.)
Look at everything that may have affected your results. What possible explanation
can you offer for your findings?
Explore and Explain/Evaluate: Students analyze their results and draw conclusions.

14. Making Applications
What recommendations do you have for further study and for improving the experiment?
Explain what you learned from your experiment that could be applied in real life.
List any new questions that your experiment lead you to ask that could be tested in a new investigation.
Students explain and evaluate their group’s work.
Students go back to their groups to review and refine their inquiry and can consider the following:
Did they do at least three trials?
Were control variables included?
What things were held constant for all paper towels (ply number, same sample size, procedures for wetting the towels)
What new question(s) could be investigated?

15. Abstract and Bibliography
Describe your purpose and hypothesis.
Briefly describe your procedure.
Describe and explain your results and also state if your hypothesis was supported or not by the results. Give possible reasons.
Explain your conclusion.
List your bibliography.
Students explain.
Teacher evaluates.

16. Communicate Your Inquiry
You can use a large chart paper to present your data.
You can use the science fair blank template to create a Power Point presentation.
You can duplicate your Power Point presentation and display on a Science Fair Project Board.
Students Explain: Each student group reports on what they did for their inquiry and what evidence they have to support their hypothesis for the best paper towel.
Teacher Evaluates.
Elaborate: Teacher (Science Fair Committee) needs to set guidelines for the school site science fair which include a Science Fair contract, Project
Proposal form, Project Timeline of four to six weeks. See for the Elementary
Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Inventions Fair Handbook resource. Check Weekly Briefings for District science fair project due date and the
District Elementary Science Fair date.
Teacher presents Science Fair project guidelines and resources to students.
Students share guidelines with parents and research a topic to identify a testable question.
Once their testable question has been approved, students work on their project following the due dates on the school Science Fair Student Checklist.
Top two school winners enter project in the District Elementary Science Fair.