Case No. 002 · Station Cards

5 stations, one page each · teacher rotation plan on page 6 ← Back to the case Judge's sheet
At the printer: pages 1–5 are the five station cards — print one copy per station (two if the group is big) and tape each to its table. Page 6 is the teacher rotation plan — set the print range to 1-5 for the cards. Turn Background graphics ON, Letter, portrait. Card stock or a sheet protector helps them survive five rotations.
Station1
Westbrook Middle School Science Fair · Health & Body · Entry 1 of 5

Does calm music lower your heart rate?

Priya N. · Grade 7
Question
Does listening to calm music lower a person's heart rate?
Hypothesis
Calm music will lower heart rate, because music helps people relax.
Independent variable
Listening to calm music
Dependent variable
Heart rate, in beats per minute (bpm)
Control
The partner's resting heart rate before the music
Materials
Chair, phone with a calm playlist, stopwatch, data table, 3 partners
Procedure
  1. Partner sits in a chair for 2 minutes, feet on the floor.
  2. Count the pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Do this 3 times. Average.
  3. Turn on the calm playlist. Turn off the lights, close the curtains, and have the partner close their eyes and breathe slowly for 2 minutes.
  4. Count the pulse again 3 times. Average.
  5. Repeat with 2 more partners.
Data
Table: before average and after average for each partner, in bpm.
Result
All 3 partners' heart rates went down 8–12 bpm. "Calm music works!"
This is a practice entry with fictional students · Medical Detectives Case No. 002

Judge's job at this station

  1. Read the whole poster. Do not decide yet.
  2. On your Judge's Sheet, Part A, row 1: write the independent variable, the dependent variable, the control, and the number of trials.
  3. Ask: between the before and the after, how many things changed? Could a stranger repeat every step exactly?
  4. Circle fair test or flawed. Then, on the back, Part C, Entry 1: name the biggest flaw — or write "No flaw" and say what it did right.
1 Questionspecific and testable
2 Hypothesisa prediction WITH a reason
3 Independent variablethe ONE thing changed
4 Dependent variablewhat is measured, with units
5 Controlsomething to compare against
6 Fair testeverything else the same
7 Procedureexact amounts and times
8 Trialsrepeat it and average
Medical Detectives · Case No. 002 · Station 1Rotate when the timer chimes
Station2
Westbrook Middle School Science Fair · Health & Body · Entry 2 of 5

Which hand sanitizer kills the most germs?

Diego R. · Grade 6
Question
Which of three hand sanitizers (Brand A, B, or C) leaves the fewest bacteria on a hand?
Hypothesis
Brand A will leave the fewest bacteria, because its label says it has the most alcohol.
Independent variable
The brand of sanitizer (A, B, or C)
Dependent variable
Number of bacteria colonies on the agar plate after 2 days
Control
I used the same amount of sanitizer — 2 pumps — every time.
Materials
3 agar plates, Brand A, B, C sanitizer, tape, marker, PPE
Procedure
  1. Rub 2 pumps of Brand A on your right hand for 20 seconds.
  2. Press your fingertips on agar plate A for 5 seconds. Close and tape it.
  3. Repeat steps 1–2 with Brand B on plate B, then Brand C on plate C.
  4. Store all plates upside down for 48 hours.
  5. Count the colonies on each plate.
  6. Repeat the whole thing 3 times with fresh plates.
Data
Table: colonies counted for A, B, and C in each of the 3 rounds, plus averages.
Result
A: 4 colonies · B: 6 · C: 5. "Brand A wins!"
This is a practice entry with fictional students · Medical Detectives Case No. 002

Judge's job at this station

  1. Read the whole poster. Do not decide yet.
  2. On your Judge's Sheet, Part A, row 2: write the independent variable, the dependent variable, the control, and the number of trials.
  3. Ask: what is this experiment comparing against? Is that a real control, or just something kept the same?
  4. Circle fair test or flawed. Then, on the back, Part C, Entry 2: name the biggest flaw — or write "No flaw" and say what it did right.
1 Questionspecific and testable
2 Hypothesisa prediction WITH a reason
3 Independent variablethe ONE thing changed
4 Dependent variablewhat is measured, with units
5 Controlsomething to compare against
6 Fair testeverything else the same
7 Procedureexact amounts and times
8 Trialsrepeat it and average
Medical Detectives · Case No. 002 · Station 2Rotate when the timer chimes
Station3
Westbrook Middle School Science Fair · Health & Body · Entry 3 of 5

Does one minute of slow breathing lower heart rate?

Amara O. · Grade 6
Question
Does one minute of slow breathing lower a resting person's heart rate?
Hypothesis
Slow breathing will lower heart rate, because slow breathing signals the body to calm down.
Independent variable
One minute of slow breathing (in for 4 counts, out for 4 counts)
Dependent variable
Heart rate, in beats per minute (bpm)
Control
Resting heart rate before the breathing — 3 trials, averaged
Kept the same
Same chair, same quiet room, lights on, no music, feet on the floor, same 15-second count × 4, same partner counting
Safety
Only healthy participants with no breathing problems.
Procedure
  1. Participant sits in the chair, feet flat, quiet, for 2 minutes.
  2. Count the pulse for 15 seconds. Multiply by 4. Record in bpm.
  3. Repeat step 2 two more times. Average the three = baseline.
  4. Participant breathes slowly for one minute: in 4 counts, out 4 counts.
  5. Immediately count the pulse for 15 seconds × 4. Record.
  6. Repeat steps 4–5 two more times. Average the three.
  7. Repeat steps 1–6 with 4 more participants (5 total).
Data
Table: 3 before and 3 after trials per participant with averages, in bpm; plus observations.
Result
Average dropped from 84 to 79 bpm across 5 people. "Slow breathing lowers heart rate a little."
This is a practice entry with fictional students · Medical Detectives Case No. 002

Judge's job at this station

  1. Read the whole poster. Do not decide yet.
  2. On your Judge's Sheet, Part A, row 3: write the independent variable, the dependent variable, the control, and the number of trials.
  3. Ask: does every one of the eight checklist items show up here? A small result is not a flaw.
  4. Circle fair test or flawed. Then, on the back, Part C, Entry 3: name the biggest flaw — or write "No flaw" and say what it did right.
1 Questionspecific and testable
2 Hypothesisa prediction WITH a reason
3 Independent variablethe ONE thing changed
4 Dependent variablewhat is measured, with units
5 Controlsomething to compare against
6 Fair testeverything else the same
7 Procedureexact amounts and times
8 Trialsrepeat it and average
Medical Detectives · Case No. 002 · Station 3Rotate when the timer chimes
Station4
Westbrook Middle School Science Fair · Health & Body · Entry 4 of 5

Does ice water lower your body temperature?

Kenji T. · Grade 7
Question
Does drinking a glass of ice water lower body temperature?
Hypothesis
Ice water will lower body temperature, because the water is cold.
Independent variable
Drinking one glass (8 oz) of ice water
Dependent variable
Forehead temperature, in °F
Control
My temperature before drinking the water
Kept the same
Same thermometer, same room, same chair, measured from the same distance
Materials
No-touch forehead thermometer, 8 oz glass, ice water, clock
Procedure
  1. Sit in the chair for 5 minutes.
  2. Measure my forehead temperature. Record it.
  3. Drink one 8 oz glass of ice water in under 2 minutes.
  4. Wait 5 minutes.
  5. Measure my forehead temperature again. Record it.
  6. Compare the two numbers.
Data
Before: 98.4 °F  ·  After: 98.1 °F
Participants: 1 (me)  ·  Trials: 1
Result
"It went down 0.3 degrees. Ice water lowers body temperature!"
This is a practice entry with fictional students · Medical Detectives Case No. 002

Judge's job at this station

  1. Read the whole poster. Do not decide yet.
  2. On your Judge's Sheet, Part A, row 4: write the independent variable, the dependent variable, the control, and the number of trials.
  3. Ask: how many people, how many tries? Could a change this small be luck, or the thermometer's normal wobble?
  4. Circle fair test or flawed. Then, on the back, Part C, Entry 4: name the biggest flaw — or write "No flaw" and say what it did right.
1 Questionspecific and testable
2 Hypothesisa prediction WITH a reason
3 Independent variablethe ONE thing changed
4 Dependent variablewhat is measured, with units
5 Controlsomething to compare against
6 Fair testeverything else the same
7 Procedureexact amounts and times
8 Trialsrepeat it and average
Medical Detectives · Case No. 002 · Station 4Rotate when the timer chimes
Station5
Westbrook Middle School Science Fair · Health & Body · Entry 5 of 5

Does jogging raise your breathing rate?

Lucas M. · Grade 6
Question
Does jogging make a person breathe faster?
Hypothesis
Jogging will raise breathing rate, because the body needs more oxygen when it works hard.
Independent variable
Jogging
Dependent variable
Breathing rate
Control
My partner's breathing before jogging
Kept the same
Same partner, same track, same day
Materials
A partner, the school track, a clipboard
Procedure
  1. Count my partner's breaths for a while.
  2. Have my partner jog around the track for a bit.
  3. Count breaths again.
  4. Write down whether it went up.
  5. Do it a few times.
Data
Before: "normal"  ·  After: "a lot more"
(no numbers written down)
Result
"Breathing went up every time. Jogging raises breathing rate!"
This is a practice entry with fictional students · Medical Detectives Case No. 002

Judge's job at this station

  1. Read the whole poster. Do not decide yet.
  2. On your Judge's Sheet, Part A, row 5: write the independent variable, the dependent variable, the control, and the number of trials.
  3. Ask: if you had to do this experiment tomorrow, how long is "a while"? What are the units? Could another scientist repeat it?
  4. Circle fair test or flawed. Then, on the back, Part C, Entry 5: name the biggest flaw — or write "No flaw" and say what it did right.
1 Questionspecific and testable
2 Hypothesisa prediction WITH a reason
3 Independent variablethe ONE thing changed
4 Dependent variablewhat is measured, with units
5 Controlsomething to compare against
6 Fair testeverything else the same
7 Procedureexact amounts and times
8 Trialsrepeat it and average
Medical Detectives · Case No. 002 · Station 5Rotate when the timer chimes
Teacher⏱
Case No. 002 · The Science Fair · station rotation

Running the stations

Do not print for students

Setup

Timing · 80-minute period

MinutesSegmentNotes
10Deck slides 1–4: the scene, the judge's checklist, how to judgeLeave the checklist slide up during rotations.
5 × 7 = 35Five rotations, 7 minutes eachUse the slide timer or a 7-minute chime. Groups rotate to the next station number.
10Finish Part C and the blue ribbon (Part D) at seatsExactly one entry has no flaw — remind them.
15Debrief: deck slide 11 (detective questions), then slide 12 — press Teacher: reveal the verdictsPoll the ribbon first. Most rooms split between Entry 1 and Entry 3.
5Exit ticket (Part B on the front) and collect

Shorter period? Drop the rotation to 6 minutes each (30 total) and start the debrief with the ribbon poll only.

The verdicts (also on page 3 of the Judge's Sheet)

Medical Detectives · Case No. 002Teacher rotation plan