Scientific Method *

Language of Science… How we study science today was developed long ago by our scientist fore-fathers and mothers Today you start to learn the language of Science!!!

Fathers of the Scientific Method Aristotle Roger Bacon Galileo Francis Bacon Other notable contributors: John Dewey Isaac Newton Robert Boyle Gregor Mendel Benjamin Franklin Charles Darwin Albert Einstein

Scientific Method – Bubble Map

Steps of the Scientific Method 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Identify a Problem/Challenge/Objective State Questions/Observations about the problem Form a Hypothesis about the problem (if…then…) Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis Collect Data Analyze Data Form a Conclusion Retest Share the Results

1. Identify the Issue Name or state the issue/problem/objective after you have asked questions Needs to be specific and not general Example: Does fertilizer help a bean plant grow taller?

Ask Questions like a Scholar! Ask questions with a specific goal or outcome in mind: Why…? Where…? What…? How…? When…? Who…?

2. Observations A scientist notices and describes the details in their natural world through observations Observations are pieces of information or details that are gathered through your senses They are recorded for future study *

3. Form a Hypothesis A hypothesis is a: suggested solution to the problem. Must be able to test it Written as If…Then… statements Educated Guess *

Hypothesis An example of a hypothesis might be: “If 150 grams of fertilizer is used to grow a bean plant, then the plant will grow taller.” *

4. Design an Experiment An experiment is written/typed plan to test the hypothesis. An experimenter changes one factor and observes or measures what happens. *

Experiment – Variables In the experiment there will be variables A Variable is a factor in the experiment that is being tested Example: height of the plant *

Two groups are required: Experiment Groups Two groups are required: The Control Group (CG) The Experimental Group (EG) *

The Control Group The experimenter keeps other variables constant so that they will not affect the outcome. Those factors are called control variables. Ex: Same bean plant, same amount of sunlight Purpose of a Control Group is to NOT be tested Controls are used for COMPARISON Ex: Giving bean plants water only instead of fertilizer *

Experimental Group The factor that is measured or observed is called the dependent variable. Ex: the height of the bean plants The factor that is changed by the scientist is known as the independent variable. Ex: growing bean plants with fertilizer *

Example 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? the different routes is the ____________ variable. The time it takes is the _________ variable. Keeping the same walker throughout makes the walker a ________ variable. independent dependent control *

5. Collect Data Data are pieces of information that come from the experiment May be quantitative Ex: numbers amount, frequency, measurements or qualitative Ex: Descriptive color, taste, smell, texture, shape, and sound *

Data Collection Data must be organized into: Tables/Charts Graphs Diagrams Plant #1 Plant #2 Plant #3 Day 1 Day 2: Day 3 Day 4: *

6. Data Analysis Data analysis involves: Comparing data from the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) Reflection did the data support your original hypothesis? Did it NOT support your hypothesis?

7. Conclusion A conclusion is a statement/answer to the hypothesis based on the data from the experiment *

8. Retest In order to verify the results, experiments must be retested. *

Steps to Solving a Problem 2) State ___________ about the problem 3) Form a ________ about the problem (if…then…) 4) Design an ________ to ____ the _________ 5) Collect______ 6) __________ data 7) Form a ___________ 8) _______ 9) ________ your Results *