The Scientific The Scientific MethodMethod

Organizing Our Science Organizing Our Science NotebooksNotebooks

The Scientific The Scientific MethodMethod

What do you think the What do you think the scientific method is?scientific method is?

Discuss this with your Discuss this with your groups or tables.groups or tables.

We will share our ideas in We will share our ideas in

3 minutes.3 minutes.

The The ScientificScientificMethodMethod is a is aseries of stepsseries of stepsthat are usedthat are usedto investigateto investigatea naturala naturaloccurrence.occurrence.

Form a Question or Form a Question or PurposePurpose

Form a hypothesisForm a hypothesis Procedure/Plan for Procedure/Plan for

testing the testing the hypothesishypothesis

Results/Data/Results/Data/ObservationsObservations

Draw conclusionsDraw conclusions Communicate ResultsCommunicate Results

Step # 1 - QuestionStep # 1 - Question

Develop a question Develop a question or problem that or problem that can be solved can be solved through an through an experiment.experiment.

This will need to This will need to include a purpose include a purpose (Why are we doing (Why are we doing this experiment?)this experiment?)

Step # 2 - HypothesisStep # 2 - Hypothesis

An educated guessAn educated guess A possible A possible

explanation or answer explanation or answer to the to the question/problem.question/problem.

Is testable.Is testable. Constructed in Constructed in

“If”…… “then”…… “If”…… “then”…… pattern.pattern.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

IfIf I sleep at least 8 hours a I sleep at least 8 hours a night, night, thenthen my grades will my grades will improve.improve.

IfIf a plant is given fertilizer, a plant is given fertilizer, thenthen it will grow taller than a plant it will grow taller than a plant that is not given fertilizer.that is not given fertilizer.

Step #3 - MaterialsStep #3 - Materials

List all materials List all materials that are needed to that are needed to complete the complete the investigationinvestigation

Step # 4 – Step # 4 – Plan/ProcedurePlan/Procedure

Scientists perform a Scientists perform a controlled experiment to controlled experiment to test their hypothesis.test their hypothesis.

To do this, you have to To do this, you have to have a step by step plan have a step by step plan or procedure.or procedure.

Scientists need to be Scientists need to be organized.organized.

Scientists also need to Scientists also need to be safe when be safe when performing experimentsperforming experiments..

Step # 5 – Results/DataStep # 5 – Results/Data

This is the time when This is the time when you observe, using you observe, using your senses. your senses.

Scientists always Scientists always write down what they write down what they are observing. are observing.

Sometimes an Sometimes an experiment must be experiment must be repeated.repeated.

Include tables, charts, Include tables, charts, graphs if needed.graphs if needed.

Step # 6 – ConclusionsStep # 6 – ConclusionsWhat have I learned?What have I learned?

Include a statement Include a statement that either agrees or that either agrees or disagrees with your disagrees with your hypothesis.hypothesis.

Do not get Do not get discouraged if it discouraged if it disagreed with your disagreed with your hypothesis. That is hypothesis. That is how we learn.how we learn.

Communicate/ Next Steps Communicate/ Next Steps and New Questionsand New Questions

Tell others what you Tell others what you found out.found out.

Write down any other Write down any other questions that were questions that were not answered in your not answered in your experiment.experiment.

Write down any other Write down any other steps that you might steps that you might take to have those take to have those questions answered.questions answered.

IMPORTANT TERMSIMPORTANT TERMS

Constant: all the factors we keep the Constant: all the factors we keep the same during an experimentsame during an experiment

Variables: the factors or materials Variables: the factors or materials that we may change during an that we may change during an experimentexperiment

Let’s put our knowledge of the Let’s put our knowledge of the Scientific Method to a realistic Scientific Method to a realistic

example that includes some of the example that includes some of the terms you’ll be needing to use and terms you’ll be needing to use and

understand.understand.

1. Question/Problem: Does a chemical change occur when we mix substance A and substance B? Record this question in your notebooks.

2. Hypothesis: Work with your group and record your hypothesis in your notebook. *Remember* If… then…

3. Materials:

1. Safety goggles

2. Gloves

3. Liquid A

4. Liquid B

5. Cup

6. Straw

4. Procedure/Plan:1. Wear safety goggles and gloves.2. Pour liquid A into the plastic cup of liquid B.3. Stir fast for 30sec to 1min with a straw.4. Observe.5. Leave straw in the cup.

5. Data/Observations: Observe what happens when substance A and B are mixed. Record what you see in your notebook. You can use bullets, pictures, or sentence format.

6. Conclusion/Questions: Make a statement (sentence format) that tells what happened. Did it agree or disagree with your hypothesis? Record in notebooks.Do you have any new questions that you might want answered? Write those down too!

We will now review and learn how to We will now review and learn how to organize each experiment in our organize each experiment in our notebooks.notebooks.

1. Questions/Problem

2. Hypothesis

3. Materials

4. Procedure/Plan

5. Data/Observations

6. Conclusions/New Questions

Now that you have participated in an Now that you have participated in an experiment, you can create your own experiment, you can create your own experiment using the scientific experiment using the scientific method.method.

I have provided the topic…DIAPERS.I have provided the topic…DIAPERS. I have also provided step #1 of the I have also provided step #1 of the

scientific method……The scientific method……The Question/Problem.Question/Problem.

It’s up to your groups to do the rest!It’s up to your groups to do the rest!

1.Question: Which diaper is the most absorbent? Which diaper will hold the most liquid?

2.Hypothesis: If…then…

3.Materials: What are you using in the experiment

4.Procedure/Plan: step-by-step, include materials list

5.Observations/Data: words or pictures

6.Conclusion/New Questions?: agree or disagree

* Remember to work in your groups and use the appropriate voice level.