How to write a good hypothesis. Step 2 in the Scientific Method

an educated guess or prediction What is a hypothesis? an educated guess or prediction

How do you write a GREAT hypothesis? Use the If, then formula If + independent variable, then + dependent variable Or…. If I change this, then this will happen.

Example Problem: I wonder if the amount of food affects my cat’s weight? If I feed my cat a lot of food, then she will get fat. Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Try to use INCREASE and DECREASE in your hypothesis! Remember… Try to use INCREASE and DECREASE in your hypothesis! Ex. IF I increase the amount of food I give my cat, THEN she will increase her weight You are predicting CAUSE and EFFECT

Let’s do the first one for practice How does Temperature affect the amount of plant growth? If _____________, then __________________

How did you do? How does Temperature affect the amount of plant growth? If I increase the temperature around the plants, then the plants will grow at a faster rate.

References This PowerPoint was adapted from Ms. Ubbing’s Science Wiki http://msubbingscience.wikispaces.com/LS+1+-+Science+Investigations+and+Experiments