Question 101

Students ask how the amount of water added will affect the growth of tomato plants.

The first step in the scientific inquiry process is for students to ask a question, which in this case involves investigating the relationship between water amount and tomato plant growth.

A) Students water measure, record, and graph the height of each plant daily

This step is incorrect as the measurement and recording of plant height occur after the initial question is posed and a hypothesis is made. It is important for students to first establish what they are investigating before starting data collection.

B) Students predict that plants that get more water will be taller than those that get less.

While this is an important step in the scientific inquiry process, it follows the initial question. This prediction, or hypothesis, is formulated after the students have identified the inquiry question about water and plant growth.

C) Students ask how the amount of water added will affect the growth of tomato plants.

This is the correct first step in the inquiry process, as it establishes the focus of the investigation. Asking a question is foundational in guiding the subsequent steps, including forming a hypothesis and designing experiments.

D) Students draw a conclusion about the amount of water and plant height.

This step comes at the end of the scientific inquiry process, after data has been collected and analyzed. Drawing conclusions is the final stage, synthesizing the results obtained from the experiments conducted earlier.

Conclusion

The correct order of the steps begins with the formulation of a question, followed by making predictions, conducting measurements, and finally drawing conclusions. Each step builds logically on the previous one, making it essential to initiate the inquiry with a clear question to guide the entire process. All other options represent stages that occur after the initial inquiry question has been established.