8/11/11Good Morning! Do-Now: Check the seating chart for your seat. If you have questions, please see me. Pick up (shelf by the door) & complete the first four lines of the attendance sheet. Your homeroom teacher is your 2 nd block teacher. Today: School Materials, Cell Phone Policy, Tardies, Attendance Sheet, SIS, Rules &Expectations, Syllabus, Notebook Set Up, Online Books, Current Events Project, Scientific Method Review, 3-2-1, GTKY

Scientific Method Review Fill In Notes

Standards SCSh1a, b, c SCSh2b SCSh3a, c, e SCSh6d SCSh7b, d, e SCSh8a, b, c, d, e SCSh9b

The Scientific Method A series of steps that scientists worldwide use to identify & answer questions OH DEAR-R-R  Observation  Hypothesis/Prediction  Design the Experiment  Execute the Experiment  Analyze Data & Draw Conclusions  Retest  Reject or Accept the Hypothesis  Report Findings

Observing The process of obtaining information by using the senses & the information you get by using your senses.  Descriptions, drawings, photographs, & measurements

Hypothesizing & Predicting A hypothesis is an explanation that is based on observations & can be tested.  Not a guess  Should make logical sense & follow from what you already know about the situation Predictions are statements made in advance that express the results that will be obtained from testing a hypothesis if the hypothesis is supported.  Usually “If…then” statements

Experiments Procedures that are carried out under controlled conditions to discover, demonstrate, or test a fact, theory, or general truth Performed when questions that arise from observations cannot be answered with additional observations. Should be designed to pinpoint cause-and- effect relationships.

Experiments, cont. Have two essential characteristics:  Only a single variable is tested  Control is used The variable is the factor that changes in an experiment in order to test a hypothesis.  To test for one variable, scientists usually study two groups or situations at one time, with the variable being the only difference between the two groups.

Experimenting, cont. The experimental group is the group in the experiment that is identical to the control group except for one factor (variable) & is compared with the control group. The control group is the group in the experiment that serves as a standard of comparison with another group to which the control group is identical except for one factor (variable).

Experimenting, cont. Independent Variable (IV)  The thing that is being changed Dependent Variable (DV)  The thing that is being measured as a result of changes in the independent variable The dependent variable depends on the independent variable.

Analyzing Data Data is any pieces of information acquired through observation or experimentation. Two Types of Data:  Qualitative (descriptive/words) & Quantitative (numerical) Organizing data (tables & graphs) helps scientists analyze the data & explain the data to others. Graphs are often used to display relationships or trends in the data.  Bar graphs compare data for several things in one graph.  Graphing the info makes the trends presented in tables easier to see.

Drawing Conclusions Scientists determine the results of their experiment by analyzing their data & comparing the outcome of their experiments with their prediction. Sometimes scientists use mathematical tools (statistics) to help them determine whether the differences are meaningful or are just a coincidence.

Retesting Experiments Scientists often repeat their experiments.  The more often an experiment can be repeated with the same results, in different places & by different people, the more sure scientists become about the reliability of their conclusions.  They look for a large amount of supporting evidence before they accept a hypothesis.

Rejecting or Accepting Hypothesis After retesting many times, scientists will determine if their hypothesis is supported or not supported. A hypothesis that is supported will be ACCEPTED. A hypothesis that is not supported will be REJECTED.

Reporting Results Scientists publish their results, sometimes in scientific articles, to share what they have learned with other scientists.  Scientific articles include the question the scientist explored, the reasons why the question is important, background information, a precise description of how the work was done, the data collected, & the scientist’s interpretation of the data.

Happy Friday!8/12/11 Do-Now:  Pick up the warm up (OH-DEAR-R-R). Please ADD the last 2 “R’s” to the bottom of your paper.  Turn in any Getting to Know You papers, signed Rules Contracts, Student Info Sheets, etc. in the basket on the desk BEFORE THE BELL RINGS.

Ticket Out the Door 1. What is the third step in “The Scientific Method”? 2. Explain why it is important for all scientist to use the same general steps when doing an experiment. 3. Why is it important to Retest your experiment?

8/20/10Good Morning! Do-Now:  Pick up a biology book from the shelf by the window.  Turn in any school forms, rules contracts, or SIS forms on the front desk. Make sure your name is on them. 1. What is a variable? 2. Contrast qualitative & quantitative data. 3. Distinguish between the control & experimental groups.

Now… Read p. 1-5 & p of the text. Pay close attention to any words in bold print, as you will be having a quiz soon (Monday?). When you have finished reading, close your pencil in your book so I know you are finished. Use this time to QUIETLY study your notes from yesterday.

Based on your reading, answer these questions. 1. Look at the picture of the manatee on p. 5 of your text. a. List two examples of qualitative data that could be collected about the manatee. b. List two examples of quantitative data that could be collected about the manatee. 2. You go to a movie. When you leave the side walk is wet. You decide that it rained while you were inside. This is an example of a(n) _______.

Do Now: Pick up a book. Fill in the blanks below. O_______________ H_______________& P_______________ D_______________the _______________ E_______________the _______________ A_______ D______ & D______ C_______ R_______________ R_______ or A_______ the H__________ R_______________ your _____________ If you brought back any school paper work, rules contracts, or student info forms, please bring them to the desk before class starts.