Name: ___________________________________________ PERIOD: ______ Date:
Tenebrio molitor - Mealworm Inquiry Lab- OL
Scientific Inquiry in Biology begins by making observations
about things in nature. Next, the scientist asks questions about
something of interest. The scientist will then research the topic
to see what is already known. Finally, scientists conduct
investigations (experiments) to find answers to their questions.
Today, you will observe mealworms. Your experiment must not harm the mealworms.
1. STATING A PROBLEM OR QUESTION
A scientific question is a question that can be investigated (capable of collecting quantitative
(you can measure it) data!!). It should not be a yes or no question.
For example a good question would be: Do mealworms prefer dark or light environments?
(Answer can be counted)
A bad question: Do mealworms have eyes? (Answer is either yes or no…no investigation
required)
You will be observing how the mealworms respond in these environments:
1) Light or Dark environment?
2) Smooth or rough surface preference of mealworms
3) Color or no color preference of mealworms
4) Wet or dry surface preference of mealworms
2. IDENTIFY YOUR VARIABLES
This will be a controlled experiment, which means you are only testing one variable and
all other variables will stay the same.
• The variable you are changing/testing is the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE.
• What you decide to measure is your DEPENDENT.
• The variables that stay the same are called your CONSTANTS OR CONTROL
VARIABLE.
You will have different experimental lab stations. The group that is not involved in the
experiment is the control group. Everybody will have the same control group, which
will be the mealworms in the same container as yours with nothing in it.
