THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD NOW WE MEAN BUSINESS DIFFERENT

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!! NOW WE MEAN BUSINESS!

DIFFERENT OPINIONS… • Different people will tell you different steps about the scientific method. • These are the steps we’re going to use: • 1. Ask a question • 2. Form a hypothesis • 3. Conduct an experiment • 4. Make observations • 5. Analyze and draw conclusions • 6. Communicate results

ASK A QUESTION • This is the purpose of your project. • A lot of times you are curious about science. A project starts with this curiosity. • Example: Does eating breakfast really help you do better in school? • What type of water helps a plant grow best- tap or bottled?

YOU TRY IT… • Find someone who does not sit at your table, and develop a scientific question.

FORM A HYPOTHESIS • Hypothesis- a short statement that says what is going to happen and why. • You make an educated guess to answer your scientific questions. • Example: I believe breakfast helps students do better in school because they are more focused on learning instead of feeling hungry. I believe bottled water will help plants grow better because the water is purified.

CONDUCT AN EXPERIMENT • This is where you test your hypothesis. • Experiments contain several components: • Variables: • Controlled variables • Independent variables • Dependent variables

VARIABLES • Variable- any part of an experiment that can change. • Controlled variable- the parts which are not being tested. These variables MUST stay the same.

VARIABLES • Independent variable- the part which is being tested. The variable which is changed by the scientists or person performing the experiment. • Dependent variable- the part of the experiment that is affected by the variable (independent variable) which is changed.

CONTROL GROUP • Control group- the group in the experiment not receiving the changed independent variable.

YOU TRY IT… • Experiment: Testing if tap water or bottled water helps a tomato plant grow better. • What is the controlled variable? • What is the independent variable? • What is the dependent variable?

MAKE OBSERVATIONS • You need to closely watch and observe your experiment to know what happens. • You need to know what you’re looking for, and what results you’re trying to find out.

ANALYZE AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS • This is where you record your results. • After you have recorded your results, you have to analyze it to see what the results mean, or draw a conclusion.

YOU TRY IT… • In my plant experiment, my results show that the tomato plant grew 3. 5 inches with tap water, and 5 inches with bottled water. • What conclusion can you draw?

COMMUNICATE YOUR RESULTS • In our case, this is where we write a lab report! • For other scientists, this is where you share your results with your colleagues, write a textbook, or go to CNN because you just made a new discovery!