2. DSTP review …reminding you what’s in your toolbox!

3. SCIENTIFIC METHOD Choose a TOPIC Do some RESEARCH What’s the PURPOSE? Make a HYPOTHESIS Do the EXPERIMENT Analyze the DATA Make a CONCLUSION

4. Parts of an experiment Independent Variable –What you’re changing on purpose Dependent Variable –What happens Constants –EVERYTHING must be exactly the same for all parts of the experiment but the variables

5. Example All of your science expos!

6. Example (From MythBusters) Does talking nicely to plants make them grow faster? Experiment –5 greenhouses with 10 plants in each –Greenhouses on same roof, but far apart –Each pot receives the same amount of water, light, soil, number of seeds, etc.

7. Talking to plants… Greenhouse 1: quiet Other greenhouses: sound recorded and played 24 hours a day Greenhouse 2: Saying nice things Greenhouse 3: Saying mean things Greenhouse 4: Classical music Greenhouse 5: Loud hard rock music

8. Problems with Problems BAD: Does talking to plants make them healthy? GOOD: Does talking to plants make them grow taller?

9. Problems with problems BAD - Which soda tastes the best? GOOD – Which soda do students on team 6 prefer, Coke, Pepsi, or Acme Cola?

10. GRAPHING Don’t let your graph go naked- Put some pants on it!

11. PANTS P: points plotted perfectly A: Axes labeled including units N: Numbers – in the correct range T: Title S: Spacing between numbers is even