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2 The Scientific Method involves a series of steps that are used to investigate a natural occurrence.

3 Essential Question What steps and terminology do I need to understand before I start a Science Project?

4 1. Question 2. Research 3. Formulate a Hypothesis 4. Experiment 5. Collect and Analyze Results 6. Conclusion 7. Communicate the Results

5 Steps of the Scientific Method Question 1. Question: Develop a question that can be solved through experimentation.

6 Steps of the Scientific Method Research 2.Research: Make observations and “look up” information in books, magazines, and/or online about your topic of interest.

7 Steps of the Scientific Method Formulate a Hypothesis 3. Formulate a Hypothesis: Based on your research, give an educated answer to your question.

8 Steps of the Scientific Method 4. Experiment 4. Experiment: o Develop and follow a procedure (sequential set of steps). o Include a detailed list of materials. o Conduct your experiment using your materials and following your procedure sequentially.

9 Steps of the Scientific Method Collect and Analyze Results 5. Collect and Analyze Results: o Collect your numerical data using tables, graphs, and/or charts. o Collect data also by taking photographs of your experiment.

10 Steps of the Scientific Method Conclusion 6. Conclusion: o A statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis. o Make recommendations for further study and possible improvements to the procedure.

11 Steps of the Scientific Method Communicate the Results 7. Communicate the Results: o An explanation of your project in a research paper (abstract), or foldable. o A presentation of the project to an audience. (Expect questions from the audience.)

12 Let’s put our knowledge of the Scientific Method to a realistic example that includes some of the terms you’ll be needing to use and understand.

13 1.Question John watches his grandmother bake bread. He ask his grandmother what makes the bread rise. She explains that yeast releases a gas as it feeds on sugar.

14 1.Question John wonders if the amount of sugar used in the recipe will affect the size of the bread loaf?

15 Caution! Be careful how you use effect and affect. Effect is usually a noun and affect, a verb. “ The effect of sugar amounts on the rising of bread.” “How does sugar affect the rising of bread?”

16 2. Research John researches the areas of baking and fermentation and tries to come up with a way to test his question. He keeps all of his information on this topic in a journal.

17 4. Experiment o John comes up with a sequential procedure list and list of needed materials. o Then, he gets all his materials together and completes his experiment.

18 3. Formulate a Hypothesis After conducting research, he comes up with a hypothesis. “If more sugar is added, then the bread will rise higher.”

19 6. Collect and Analyze Results John comes up with a table he can use and then he records his data.

20 Size of Baked Bread (LxWxH) cm 3 Amt. of Sugar (g.) 123Average Size (cm 3 ) Size of Bread Loaf (cm 3 ) Trials Control group

21 7. Conclusion John rejects his hypothesis and explains why in his conclusion!

22 8. Communicate the Results o John prepares a science board as well as a research paper (or foldable). He also practices his oral presentation that he will give in class.

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