1. Mousetrap Car Lab Write-Up and Sketches Requirements
Tahoma Jr. High
8th Grade Science
Maple Valley, WA

2. on how to do the sketches.
This is a detailed, specific version of the Lab Write-up Rubric you have used for previous lab write-ups and has info
on how to do the sketches.
Carefully follow the suggestions in this
PowerPoint to get the full points
available.
First of all – as usual – ALL 8th Science work MUST BE HANDWRITTEN
(to show it’s original work and gives practice for tests, etc.)
ONLY STEPS 1 through 3 are
due on Race Day

3. ALSO – don’t even think about “recycling” an older
brother/sister’s car.
BUT… you can recycle the PARTS if you want to.
we take pictures in all classes and share
them around, so we are quite familiar with cars used the last few years or more
We’ve got our eye on you!

4. Step 1: Question (Problem) In the form of a question ?
This has been given to you on the Mousetrap Car Individual Project handout – copy it.

5. Step 2: Hypothesis (Prediction) “If …., then …., because…” format ?
“If (what you change – Manipulated Variable - on your car to make it go a longer distance), then (what result - Responding Variable - do you expect to happen to the distance the car travels), because (science reason why the modification is going to make your car travel a different distance). ”
THERE ARE ONLY THREE POSSIBLE MANIPULATED VARIABLES:
1. change length of lever arm
2. change size of DRIVE wheel
3. change size of DRIVE axle

6. Is there a Materials List ?
Step 3: Experiment
Is there a Materials List ?
Your list should include all the items required to
do the experiment, including the materials to
make your car (materials should also be listed/labeled on your sketches so you can build the car from the sketches alone).
Most importantly you need to include whatever
instrument is going to be used to measure the
Responding Variable (e.g. Tape Measure)
(we will provide the Tape Measure in class).

7. Step 3: Experiment (continued) Is there a Variables List (three)?
You need to list out the three types of
variable and identify them:
“The Manipulated Variable is…”
“The Responding Variable is…”
“One Controlled Variable is…” (at least ONE GOOD ONE – but add a couple more to be sure)

8. Step 3: Experiment (continued)
Is there a numbered set of instructions
that make logical sense ?
* To make it easy, #1 WILL simply say:
1. Build mousetrap car according to sketches
After that, you will explain how to do the experiment very clearly (it should only take a few steps or so)

9. Step 3: Experiment (continued) Is the whole experiment repeated ?
Have you set up the experiment to have multiple trials (or at least made a step that says “Repeat Whole Experiment at least two more times.”) ?
* Be very careful when saying “repeat steps…” that they actually are repeating the whole experiment.

10. Bring your car on race day (which should be complete through Step 3)
UP TO HERE – STEP 3 - IS ALL YOU NEED TO BRING ON RACE DAY TO SHOW YOU ARE READY TO RACE AND COLLECT DATA.
Bring your car on race day
AND the Write-Up
(which should be complete through Step 3)
DURING RACING COLLECT YOUR DATA IN AN ORGANIZED WAY AND USE IT WHEN YOU WRITE STEPS 4 and 5 TO COMPLETE THE LAB WRITE-UP FOR HOMEWORK.

11. Step 4: Data In a Table format ?
Manipulated Variable Labeled in Table ?
Responding Variable Labeled in Table ?
You will collect the data for this Step on race day (for homework that night you make the table).

12. Step 5: Conclusion - Did you Copy the Hypothesis so you can
respond to it ?
Is a Before Change Average and After Change Average listed?
Did you calculate the Difference between the two Averages and Explain how that difference proves your Hypothesis correct or not?
- Evaluation/Critique of experiment done ?
- As there a new related question to investigate ?
Write a proper Conclusion to your experiment following the items above. The last two are required by the District – but not on state tests.

13. HELPFUL TIPS FOR THE DESIGN SKETCHES and FINAL PACKAGE:
(basically, so someone could build it by the sketch alone)
three views for the 3-Dimensions
(front, top and side)
Metric measurements are required
(American in parentheses)
Materials used are identified (“CDs for wheels”, etc.)
Total size (folded OK) same as paper: 8 ½ x 11
Sketches are stapled to Lab Write-Up when turned in
Name, Due Date and Period on ALL papers
No plastic covers, binders, etc.
Example sketches on next three slides

14. NOT NEARLY GOOD ENOUGH:
1) no dimensions in metric (American)
2) Materials List incomplete

15. NICE AND NEAT (too neat, done by an ADULT!!)
1) no dimensions in metric
2) materials are not listed, but OK in drawing
(we need to know how to build the car from the sketches alone)

16. WE’RE NOT LOOKING FOR FANCY – JUST COMPLETE – HERE’S ONE VIEW (do Front and Top like this as well)

17. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FIRST RE-READ THE INSTRUCTION SHEET CAREFULLY!
AFTER THAT YOU CAN ASK RELIABLE FRIENDS… OR FINALLY YOUR TEACHER.
REMEMBER, TEST YOUR CAR AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS AND YOU CAN
MAKE THE MODIFICATION WITHIN
20 MINUTES – AND… BRING YOUR WRITE-UP STEPS 1-3 TO RACE DAY !!
end show