How Do You Pass a Science Test? Using the Scientific Method to Solve a Real-World Problem

Kevin is a fifth-grader Kevin is a fifth-grader. This is his last year in elementary school, and he has a problem. Although he gets pretty good grades in most subjects, he has failed all of the three science tests that he has taken this year.

How do you pass a Science test? Kevin likes science, he participates in class. Even though he feels like he is learning a lot, he doesn’t seem to be prepared for the test. All of this leaves Kevin to wonder ……… How do you pass a Science test?

1. State the Problem/Question The first step of the Scientific Method is….. 1. State the Problem/Question The problem was that he couldn’t pass the science tests. Stating the problem as a question would go something like this: “What is the best way to prepare for and pass a science test?”

The Scientific Method is a systematic approach to problem-solving that all scientists use. The teacher said that the steps of the Scientific Method could be used to solve almost any problem.

The Scientific Method And now he is half way through the… Now Kevin has to design his experiment around his hypothesis. Since he believes that using a study guide will improve his science test scores… He collects data for 3 more tests using his study guide, since he didn’t think of that before. And now he is half way through the… The Scientific Method

5. Record and Analyze Your Data This leads us into step 5 of the Scientific Method 5. Record and Analyze Your Data Data is the recorded observations and measurements obtained during your experiment.

Math Alert: Warning: The following slides contains math content that some students may find disturbing, or at least annoying, viewer discretion is advised.

In order to compare and analyze these numbers in detail, Kevin might want to compare the mean, or average score, in the control and experimental groups. How do you find the mean of a set of numbers/test scores? That’s right. You add all of the numbers together and then divide by how many numbers there are.

Looking at the control group, you need to add the three scores together. That’s 65+63+55=183. Now take 183 ÷ 3. We are dividing by 3 because there are three scores Control Group- WITHOUT the use of study guides Experimental Group- with the use of study guides Test # Grade Test 1 65% Test 2 63% Test 3 55% AVERAGE Test # Grade Test 1 89% Test 2 78% Test 3 91% AVERAGE

61% 183 ÷ 3= 61. So Kevin’s average WITHOUT using study guides is 61% Control Group- WITHOUT the use of study guides Experimental Group- with the use of study guides Test # Grade Test 1 65% Test 2 63% Test 3 55% AVERAGE Test # Grade Test 1 89% Test 2 78% Test 3 91% AVERAGE 61%

Although it is true that the conclusion is like an ending, it is also usually the beginning of something new. There are also times when scientists will perform the seventh step to the Scientific Method. 7. Repeat Your Work

Why would scientists feel they need to repeat a well planned experiment? They do this to make sure that their results are accurate. They want to make sure that there weren’t any hidden variables that they didn’t know about. In Kevin’s experiment, a hidden variable would be something else that changed at about the same time, like a different topic, as when Kevin began using the study guides. This “something else” could have been at least part of the reason for Kevin’s improved grades.

Question What do you call the part of an experiment that does NOT contain the variable? Hypothesis B. control C. conclusion D. data

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You are a genius! Now you are ready for the next question.

All seven steps of the Scientific Method are on the next slide, but they are all mixed up. Click on the steps in their proper order, starting with step 1. If you choose correctly, the step will move into place. If you choose a step out of order, you will have to try again.

Click on step 1 Record and Analyze Data State the Problem Form a Hypothesis Repeat Your Work Gather Information Perform Experiments (to test your hypothesis) State Your Conclusion

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What are the rest of the steps in order? The Scientific Method 1. State the Problem What are the rest of the steps in order? Record and Analyze Data Form a Hypothesis Repeat Your Work Gather Information Perform Experiments (to test your hypothesis) State Your Conclusion