SCIENTIFIC METHOD 1.Observation 2.State the Problem 3.Hypothesis 4.Experimentation 5.Gather Data 6.Conclusion 7.Verification

SCIENTIFIC METHOD 1.Observation 2.State the Problem 3.Hypothesis 4.Experimentation 5.Gather Data 6.Conclusion 7.Verification

Scientific Method: Steps used to help solve a problem. (here is how you can remember the steps) On Saturday, Henry Eats Grapes, Cookies, and V8 splash.

Scientific Method Vocabulary

Step 1:Observations information collected with senses. describes scientific events.

Examples of Observation Bottle of liquid Gone but not forgotten

*Inference Conclusions based on observations,evidence, or previous experiences.

Observation/Inference Kids in ad Observation Inference What ad for? Practice questions

Tracks like these are common in parts of New England and in the southwestern United States. What do you OBSERVE? What can you INFER?

Now what do you think?

Infer what happened based on your observations.

Let’s Test Your Knowledge Observation or Inference? 1. Number of dogs in a kennel 2. Why something happened 3. The shape of the moon 4. What caused something to happen 5 How something works 6. Size of a horse 7. Color of a flower 8. What time it is

Pick out the part! 1. You come home late on a cold, rainy night. When you turn on the light switch, the lights do not come on. 2. You get into your car and turn the key. The car does not start. 3 You are baby-sitting a 6 month old baby. The baby begins to cry. 4. You press play button on cassette recorder, but do not hear any music. 5. You awaken. You look at clock and see the alarm did not go off!

Step 2: State the Problem What needs to be solved? Ex: What is the Answer? 10 2

ACTIVITY: SAVE FRED!! Name: ________________________ Challenge (essential ?): How can you and your partner solve a problem? 1) Complete the task 2) Answer questions 1 and 3 on page A-7

STEP 3: Hypothesis “EDUCATED GUESS” Should be a If / Then statement Examples: IF I study my homework, THEN I will pass the test. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IF I water the plants with too much water, THEN they will die. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ IF I feed the baby, THEN she will stop crying.

Step 4: EXPERIMENT Procedure used to discover something unknown

*Subject* Person/thing being tested in experiment.

*Procedure* –Detailed steps –Must be repeatable. Written like a recipe!!

*Constant* same materials in all set-ups. never changes

*Control* Used for comparison The “NORM”

OBSERVATION BOX Rules: You have 10 seconds to look in the box May touch items in the box May not take anything out of the box Must sit quietly during expt

*Variables* INDEPENDENT 1 thing tested DEPENDENT What happened or measured

Science Skills: Variables Self Check Click to test yourself

A variable is something that can vary or change. What are the variables in this statement? 1.The time it takes to run a 10 km race depends on the amount of training the runner does. Click to check your answers

The time it takes to run a 10 km race depends on the amount of training the runner does. The independent variable is the amount of exercise. The dependent variable is the time it takes to run a 10 km race. It is not enough to say just “time” or “training” – you must describe the I.V. and tell how the D.V. is measured. Click for another question

What are the variables in this statement? 2.The temperature of water is measured at different depths in a lake. Click to check your answers

The temperature of water is measured at different depths in a lake. The independent variable is the depth of the lake. The dependent variable is the temperature of the water. Click for another question

What are the variables in this statement? 3.The more water a plant gets, the taller it will grow. Click to check your answers

The more water a plant gets, the taller it will grow. The independent variable is the amount of water. The dependent variable is the height of the grass. Click for another question

What are the variables in this statement? 4.The number of puppies in a litter is determined by the weight of the mother dog. Click to check your answers

The number of puppies in a litter is determined by the weight of the mother dog. The independent variable is the weight of the mother dog. The dependent variable is the number of puppies in the litter. Click for another question

What are the variables in this statement? 5.The Texas A & M Extension Service has been counting the number of coyotes in Bexar County. Will the number of coyotes have any effect on the rabbit population? Click to check your answers

The Texas A & M Extension Service has been counting the number of coyotes in Bexar County. Will the number of coyotes have any effect on the rabbit population? The independent variable is the number of coyotes. The dependent variable is the rabbit population.

Practice Worksheet 1.Amt of sunlight & how many flowers produced. 2. Temp of house and number of colds. 3.Number of holes in pancake and griddle temp. 4. Number of sick days with different smog amts. 5. Number of babies born with # of full moons. 6. Time runner goes with the amt of soda drinks. 7. Number of trees die with amounts of acid rain. 8. Depth of the lake and amt of oxygen present. 9. Number of seeds, different window locations. 10. Drops that fit penny and color of the water.

Step 5: Gather Data facts, statistics, or information from experiment. STATE it, DO NOT EXPLAIN IT!!

Types: Quantitative Numbers Usually requires use of tools. Ex: 2 flowers, 3 trees, six feet, 1000 miles Qualitative Observations: How it looks, tastes, smells, feels, sounds Ex: green, salty, smoky, silky, soft, loud

Which One? QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE

Tables and Graphs Every lab should have your data represented in a table and a graph – THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!! TABLE GRAPH

Types of Graphs: Circle Graph- used to show percentages Line Graph- used to show trends. Changes over time. Bar Graph- Used to compare data

D’TAILS Every Graph Should have: D - Data T – Title (SPECIFIC) A – Axis Labels (x and y) I – Intervals (spaces on lines) L – Labels (independent and dependent) S – Scale (fit space) Don’t forget the D’TAILS!!!!

PIRATE SHIP Flying High with the “Y” “X” marks the spot on the ground Y X

Graphing

Average 7 th Grader Lab

STEP 6: CONCLUSION “wrapping it up” Explains results See if hypothesis is correct Research! Mentions mistakes/problems

STEP 7: Verify To “Retest” or “double check” to see if experiment is VALID

The Pellagra Story Challenge (essential ?) What are some common elements shared by all scientific problem-solving methods? How is science used to study people? 1) Read analysis questions pg A-9 to A-10 2) Complete table 1 pg A-9 during video 3) video 4) Answer analysis questions

Help with the Penny Lab Cohesion –The force between particles in a substance that works to hold it together Surface Tension –Water molecules have bonds that hold them together. At the surface of the water, the molecules hold on to each other even more tightly because there are no molecules pulling on them from the air above. As the molecules on the surface stick together, they form an invisible "skin" called surface tension.

Testing Medicine: A Clinical Trial Challenge (E?) : How are medicines tested during a clinical trial? 1) TERMS!!! 2) Complete Activity 3) Record Results in group 4) Record results for group 5) Analysis 1-4

Testing Meds. Vocab * Trade-off- giving up one thing for another Trial – a try – should have as many as possible in an experiment Sample Size – the number of people or subjects in an experiment Placebo – a “fake medicine” used as a control – contains no drugs – usually made of sugar

Conclusion 1.Paragraph One – Description in words of the data that you found. Does this data support your hypothesis? 2.Paragraph Two – Why did you get the results that you did? Were there any mistakes made that might influence the data? What would you do differently if you were to do this experiment again?