Scientific Method Bellringer 5 minutes 1 Natalie is

Scientific Method

Bellringer (5 minutes) 1. Natalie is using a 3 -dimensional representation to study the parts of the human heart. Isaiah is working in a laboratory to test the hypothesis that plants grow taller in green light than in white light. Which of the following best compares their activities? n a. Natalie is conducting a scientific investigation, and Isaiah is not. n b. Natalie is not conducting a scientific investigation, and Isaiah is not. n c. Natalie is conducting an experiment, and Isaiah is conducting a field study. n d. Natalie is investigating a scientific model, and Isaiah is conducting an experiment.

I DO: Steps in the Scientific Method n n n Observation or Question Hypothesis Experiment Data Collection Conclusion Replicate the experiment

Observations Gathered through your senses n A scientist notices something in their natural world n

Observations n An example of an observation might be noticing that many salamanders near a pond have curved, not straight, tails

Hypothesis n n A suggested solution to the problem. Must be testable Written as If…Then… statements Predicts an outcome

Hypothesis n An example of a hypothesis might be that the salamanders have curved tails due to a pollutant in the moist soil where they live.

Experiment A set of steps or procedures used to test the hypothesis. n

Experiment Independent Variable – factor in the experiment that is being tested and modified by the person doing the experiment

Experiment A good or “valid” experiment will only have ONE independent variable!

Experiment n Dependent Variable – factor in the experiment that is being measured and is affected by the independent variable. Independent (cause) Dependent (effect)

Scientific Experiments Follow Rules n An experimenter changes one factor and observes or measures what happens.

The Constant Variables The experimenter makes a special effort to keep other factors constant so that they will not effect the outcome. n Those factors are called constants. n

What is the Purpose of a Control Group? Control groups are NOT being tested n Control groups are used for COMPARISON n

Other Variables n n The factor that is changed is known as the independent variable. The factor that is measured or observed is called the dependent variable.

Example of Controls & Variables n n n For example, suppose you want to figure out the fastest route to walk home from school. You will try several different routes and time how long it takes you to get home by each one. Since you are only interested in finding a route that is fastest for you, you will do the walking yourself.

What are the Variables in Your Experiment? Varying the route is the independent variable n The time it takes is the dependent variable n Keeping the same walker throughout makes the walker a control variable. n

One more thing… it is best to make several trials with each independent variable. This is called repetition, because the same person performs the experiment several times.

Remember: To be a Valid Experiment: Two groups are required --the control & experimental groups n There should be only one test (independent) variable n

Data Results of the experiment n May be quantitative (numbers) or qualitative n

Data Must be organized n Can be organized into charts, tables, or graphs n

Conclusion n The answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the experiment

Retest In order to verify the results, experiments must be retested or replicated.

WE DO! n In the left side of your notebooks make a concept map about everything you know about science and the scientific method.

You Do: Solving a Problem 1)Identify a Problem 2) State Observations about the problem 3) Form a Hypothesis about the problem (if…then…) 4) Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis 5) Collect Data 6) Form a Conclusion 7) Retest

YOU Do EXIT SLIP (Left Side) n n n 1. Pat has two kinds of plant food, “Quickgrow” and “Supergrow”. What would be the best way for Pat to find out which plant food helps a particular type of houseplant grow the most? A. Put some Quickgrow on a pant in the living room put some Supergrow on a plant of the same type in the bedroom, and see which one grows the most. B. Find out how much each kind of plant food costs, because the most expensive kind is probably better for growing plants. C. Put some Quickgrow on a few plants, put the same amount of Supergrow ona fw other plants of the same type, put all plants in the same place, and see which group of plants grow the best. D. Look at the advertisements for Quickgrow and Supergrow to see which one says it helps plants grow the most.

YOU Do EXIT SLIP (Left Side) n n n 2. Colleen waters the plants in her greenhouse once everyday. She wants to find out if the plants will grow more leaves if they are watered more often. She counts the number of leaves on each plant before she starts. She then continues to water half of each type of plant once daily, but she waters the other half of each type twice a day. What is the outcome variable (dependent variable)? A. B. C. D. the the type of plant being grown number of leaves the plant grows amount of light the plant receives number of time the plants are watered

YOU Do EXIT SLIP (Left Side) n n n 3. Christy wants to find out f the birds that visit the bird feeders in her backyard would rather build nests in birdhouses or in trees. She puts a birdhouse next to the feeder container sunflower seeds and hangs a feeder containing cracked corn from a tree. She observes the birds’ nesting activities over the next two weeks and records her observations. Which of the following would improve Christy’s investigation? A. B. C. D. Putting more food next to both bird feeders Setting the feeders up closer to each other Putting the same kind of food in both bird feeders Setting up a third bird feeder containing fruit near a bird bath

The Martian In an essay: n 1. Find 5 scenes from the movie that demonstrate a step in the scientific method. (The steps include: observing a problem, stating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis with variables and controls, recording and analyzing data, forming a conclusion, and replicating the work. ) n 2. Summarize each scene. (Do not summarize the movie. ) n 3. Describe how the scene is an example of that step of the Scientific Method. n 4. Explain how this step aids in the solution of the problem. n 5. Answer the following questions: What is the hexadecimal system, and why is language so important in science and math? How important was it for the film's main character to keep a log? Why do we not yet have the technology to go to Mars?

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