Scientific Method Project

Language of Science… How we study science today was developed long ago by our scientist fore-fathers and mothers Today you start to learn the language of Science!!!

Fathers of the Scientific Method Aristotle Roger Bacon Galileo Francis Bacon Other notable contributors: John Dewey Isaac Newton Robert Boyle Gregor Mendel Benjamin Franklin Charles Darwin Albert Einstein

Scientific Method – Bubble Map

Steps to Scientific Method 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) Identify a Problem/Challenge/Objective State Questions/Observations about the problem Form a Hypothesis about the problem (if…then…) Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis Collect Data Analyze Data Form a Conclusion Retest Share the Results

Objective Students will learn how to conduct the scientific method while studying creation. Students will discover the different plants around their MCS campus by making observations and mapping their locations.

Ask Questions like a Scholar! Ask questions with a specific goal or outcome in mind: Why…? Where…? What…? How…? When…? Who…?

Know/Need to Know Chart What you KNOW What you NEED to KNOW Create Table in Journal Individual – 4 minutes Group – 2 minutes

Observations Observations are information/details that are gathered through your senses They are recorded for future study A scientist notices and describes the details in their natural world

Review Observations Were your observations complete thoughts or sentences? Did you give a location for the object? Does your description include texture? Color? Shape? Length? Width? Height?

Intentional Observations We will focus on Primarily on the plants as we explore outside Plant Observations Where: MCS Courtyard Date: 9/6/13 Time: 11:15 AM Plant 1 1. The leaves are long and slender. 2. The leaves are pale/light green. 3. The leaf texture is smooth and waxy.

Hypothesis A hypothesis is a: suggested solution to the problem. Must be able to test it Sometimes written as If…Then… statements Predicts an outcome

Hypothesis An example of a hypothesis might be: “If plants grow near the building, then they would grow larger than out in the open.”

Experiment An experiment is a procedure to test the hypothesis. An experimenter changes one factor and observes or measures what happens.

Experiment – Variables In the experiment there will be variables A Variable is a factor in the experiment that is being tested Example: height of the plant in proximity to the building

Two groups are required: Experiment Groups Two groups are required: The Control Group The Experimental Group

The Control Variable The experimenter makes a special effort to keep other variables constant so that they will not effect the outcome. Those factors are called control variables.

The Control Variable Purpose of a Control is to NOT be tested Controls are used for COMPARISON

Other Variables The factor that is changed by the scientist is known as the independent variable. The factor that is measured or observed is called the dependent variable.

Example For example, suppose you want to figure out the fastest route to walk home from school. You will try several different routes and time how long it takes you to get home by each one. Since you are only interested in finding a route that is fastest for you, you will do the walking yourself.

What are the Variables in Your Experiment? Varying the route is the ____________ variable. The time it takes is the _________ variable. Keeping the same walker throughout makes the walker a ________ variable. independent dependent control

Data Data are pieces of information that come from the experiment May be quantitative Ex: numbers – amount, frequency, measurements or qualitative descriptive: color, taste, smell, texture, shape, and sound

Data Collection Data must be organized into: Tables Charts Graphs

Data Analysis Data analysis involves: Comparing the data collected from the experimental group and control group Reflection  did the data support your original hypothesis? Did it NOT support your hypothesis? Sometimes analysis requires additional observations!

Conclusion A conclusion is a statement/answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the experiment What did you learn?

Retest In order to verify the results, experiments must be retested.

Steps to Solving a Problem 2) State ___________ about the problem 3) Form a ________ about the problem (if…then…) 4) Design an ________ to ____ the _________ 5) Collect______ 6) __________ data 7) Form a ___________ 8) _______ 9) ________ your Results