Steps of the Scientific Method

Decide on a Topic What are you interested in? What do you want to find out more about?

Research Your Topic What factual information is available on your topic? What have other scientists found out through experiments? What questions do you have that have not been answered about your topic?

Problem and Hypothesis Defining your Problem –Select one of your questions about your topic to be your problem. –It needs to be stated as a question. –You must be able to answer your question with a hands- on experiment Your Hypothesis –A hypothesis is a probable answer to your question. –Make sure to consider the research on your topic. –What do you think will happen?

Materials and Procedure Materials –Decide what you will need to test your hypothesis. –Gather those materials. Procedure –Write an instruction test going through the sequential steps of your experiment.

Observations While the experiment is in progress, watch to see what happens. –Does anything change color or temperature? –Are things happening the way you thought they would? –What else do you see happening?

Conclusion Was your hypothesis correct? If it wasn’t, why do you think it was wrong? Does this experiment give you ideas on other ways to test your hypothesis? Good Luck