Scientific Method Paper Airplanes SPI 0507.Inq.1 √ :0507.Inq.1 Identify specific investigations that could be used to answer a particular question and identify reasons for the this choice √ 0507.Inq.2 identify tools needed to investigate specific questions √ Inq.3 maintain a science notebook that includes observations, data, diagrams, and explanations. √ 0507.Inq.4 Analyze and communicate findings from multiple investigations of similar phenomena to reach a conclusion

What is the Scientific method? A series of steps, used by scientists, to gather knowledge

Our experiment Let’s say we wondered if the material that an airplane is made of affected the distance it traveled. What could we do? What materials would we need? How do we set up the experiment? Is my experiment about something that is relevant? Do “inquiring minds” want to know?

Steps of the Scientific Method Step 1 Question/problem/purpose Do you ever wonder why something is a certain color, shape, or texture? Why some things melt faster than others? Why some cars go faster than others? How something works? Why something works the way it does? Well, if you have ever ask a questions about something in our world, you are doing what scientists do. A scientist will have a question about some aspect of the natural world. Example: Will the material of the airplane affect the distance the airplane will travel? *Note the tense of the verb.

What is a hypothesis? Step 2 is to create a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an “educated guess” about what you think the end results of your experiment will be. Usually has an If…then…statement. It is in the form of a statement. What type of punctuation is at the end of a statement? It is based on previous knowledge you have gained from school, T.V., books, home, etc. Must be testable. For example: If my airplane is made out of a lighter material such as notebook paper, then will it fly a longer distance.

Step 3 1. A test of a hypothesis. 2. One variable is tested at a time. Two types of variables 1.Independent- what you change 2.Dependent- (what you see) what happens as a result of the independent variable What are the variables in our airplane experiment? Independent variable- (What are we changing?) The material used to make the airplanes (notebook paper, construction paper, and printer paper) Dependent variable- the distance traveled

Data Step Four: Collect and Analyze Data 1. Two types of data: a. Qualitative: descriptive data, given in words. -Example: lighter paper- flew further, heavy paper- shorter distance. b. Quantitative: numerical data, given in numbers. -Example: 4 feet, 2 feet in distance 2. Can be better organized for analysis by organizing data into charts or graphs.

Conclusion Step Five: Conclusion 1. A statement that proves or disproves the hypothesis. 2. Achieved by studying data and comparing it to the hypothesis. Does data prove/support or disprove/contradict the hypothesis. 3. Example: The lighter material did fly the farthest distance. *Note the tense of the verb.

Your Science Fair experiment 1. Purpose- What is your experiment about? 2. Hypothesis- a STATEMENT that must be proved or disproved National Treasure movie: -Thomas Edison tried 2,000 times to make a light bulb. 1,900 of those times his hypothesis was disproved. It is perfectly OKAY for your hypothesis to be disproved!! You learned something!!!!! 3. Procedure- step by step instructions of what you did (someone else should be able to re-do your exact experiment by reading your instructions) 4. Materials List- list all the materials used in your experiment (IF your materials are small enough to fit in front of your project board, you can put them with your project board at the science fair- BUT you still have to have a materials list. 5. Results- your data collected from your experiment (graphs, charts (can be as simple as a yes/no chart), pictures, drawings, etc.) 6. Conclusion- a STATEMENT that proves or disproves the hypothesis. Remember, it is okay for your hypothesis to be proved wrong!