Experimental Design/ Inquiry Lab: Ouch! Sunburn

NOTE: This lab uses UV detecting beads

It doesn't matter if you call it experimental design, or the scientific method, this lab is a great place to start. Students are challenged to answer the question “How can you design an experiment to prove which sunscreen is the most effective in preventing sunburn caused by ultraviolet B radiation?”

Sample student responses are included. The lab focuses on increasing the quality of student responses when making suggestions on how to improve their experiment. (Often referred to as sources of error in an experiment.)