1. Inquiry and Problem Solving Processes and Skills
Scientific Method
Lab Equipment, procedures, and safety

2. Why do we study Science? Investigate and understand the world
Explain events in the natural world
Use the explanations to make useful predictions

3. The Methods of Biology
Scientific Method – common steps that scientists use to gather information and answer questions.

4. Scientific Method
1. Problem – observation or question State the problem – What do you want to find out? Research the problem – What do we already know about it?

5. Scientific Method
2. Hypothesis – testable statement that answers the question Also called an “educated guess” based on experiences

6. Scientific Method
3. Design the Experiment – Develop a plan to test the hypothesis by determining: dependent and independent variables constants (or controls) type(s) of data to gather

7. Scientific Method
4. Conduct the experiment Set up Perform Record data Perform calculations and/or organize data into charts, graphs, or diagrams

8. Scientific Method
5. Conclusion – reports results Based on the data, was the hypothesis correct? If data was not correct, can you develop a new hypothesis to test?

9. Scientific Method
6. Theory – accepted idea that is true based on the evidence from repeated experiments that supports it

10. Match the steps to the question
Match the steps to the question. Each step may be used more than once or not at all.
1. What is the first step of the scientific method.
2. After stating the problem, what is the next step?
3. Deciding what kind of data to gather takes place during which step?
4. Which step comes after conducting the experiment?
5. When are variables and controls determined?
6. Which step gives a possible explanation to a problem that can then be tested?
7. If an idea can be proven over and over again, it can proceed to which step?
8. Data is gathered during which step?
9. During which step is the hypothesis proved or disproved?
A. conclusion
B. forming a hypothesis
C. theory
D. conducting an experiment
E. designing the experiment
F. stating the problem

11. Performing Scientific Experiments
Collect the Data
When a biologist conducts an experiment, he or she investigates a phenomenon in a controlled setting to test a hypothesis.
Biologists use controlled experiments to obtain data – Quantitative or Qualitative – that support or do not support a hypothesis

12. Performing Scientific Experiments
Quantitative Data – numbers or amounts
Measured data – length, mass, pH, temperature
Qualitative data – descriptive data
Color, odor, taste, feel

13. Variables A control group is used for comparison.
Every experiment needs a test group and a control group.
The experimental group gets the treatment of the experiment.
Nothing is done to the control group.
Constants are kept the same for BOTH groups.

14. Variables
The independent variable is the treatment and is tried on the test group.
The dependent variable would be counted or measured after the treatment is given.
Dependent variable depends on independent variable. What depends on what?

15. Conducting an Experiment
Freddy wants to determine which fertilizer A, B, or C, will cause tomato plants to grow the fastest. His hypothesis is that the tomato plants fertilized with C will grow the fastest because it has the most phosphorus.

16. Plant growth
What kind of data should Freddy collect in his experiment?

17. Measure and record height
What will he measure to determine growth?

18. Freddy decides to measure in inches every two days for three weeks
Freddy decides to measure in inches every two days for three weeks. Now that he knows he’s going to measure height, he needs to answer the following questions in order to design his experiment. What will be his control group? How many experimental groups will he have? How many plants should he put in each group?

19. Group that gets same amount of light and water but NO fertilizer
Control group?

20. Groups that get the different types of fertilizer – A, B, C
Experimental groups?

21. Freddy decides to plant 5 tomato plants in each group for a total of 20 plants

22. Soil, sunlight, amount of water, number of plants
What are important constants in Freddy’s experiment?

23. Plant height depends on the fertilizer
Can you determine the independent and dependent variables in Freddy’s experiment? Remember what depends on what?

24. Saving Sam Activity
Sam is stuck on a boat, and how he got there is not important, but Sam can't swim and the boat is capsized. To get to shore, Sam needs to retrieve a life jacket from underneath the boat so that he can float to shore. You and your partner's job is to save Sam but retrieving the life jacket from under the boat and putting it on Sam. Unfortunately, the only tools you can use to accomplish this task are paperclips. You cannot touch Sam, the boat, or the life preserver with your bare hands.
Use the Scientific Method to Save Sam!!

25. Saving Sam Analyze and Conclude the experiment:
Discuss (tell me what you think) about the difficulty of the task, what other strategies you and your partner worked on before your succeeded, and what you think the critical steps were for solving the problem
Although this is working backwards, and not how scientists normally work, please develop a hypothesis for this lab. (remember that a hypothesis is an ‘if-then’ statement: If I do this, then this will happen)

26. Saving Sam – Scientific Method
Problem: How can you and your partner save Sam using only paper clips? You may not touch Sam, the boat, or the live preserver directly with your hands.
Materials: Gummy worm, Gummy “Life Saver” preserver, plastic cup and a paper clip per person
Procedures:
Work with your partner(s) & “Save Sam”
Follow the rules: Remember NO HANDS
Develop a data section that includes diagrams of how you saved Sam and a detailed protocol describing the diagrams

27. Conducting an Experiment Activity
Each group will have a scenario. Given each scenario, design an experiment to answer the experimental question. Identify a control group, dependent and independent variables and possible outcomes or what type of data would be gathered. You will not actually be performing these experiments. Turn in your design on paper – each group has one paper.

28. Graphing

29. Pie graphs are used to show percentages, compare parts of the whole.

30. Bar graphs are used when one of the variables is not a number.

31. Line Graph
Line graphs are used when both variables are numbers.

32. Dependent and Independent Variables on Graphs

33. Trends in Line Graphs
You can normally look at the data on a graph and determine the trend.
There are 5 types of trends:
Upward
Downward
Peaking
Unstable
Unchanging Data

34. Upward Trend
The dependent element increases as the independent element increases.

35. Downward Trend
The dependent element decreases as the independent element increases.

36. Peaking Trend
The dependent element increases to a point and then begins to decrease as the independent element increases.

37. Unstable Trend
The dependent element increases and decreases several times as the independent element increases.

38. Unchanging Data Trend
The dependent element does not change (stays constant) as the independent element increases.

39. Lab Equipment

40. Beaker
Used to hold measure and transport liquids
Measures volume

41. Bunsen Burner
To heat substances

42. Cover Slip
To flatten the object being viewed and to keep the lens clean

43. Dissecting Tools: Dissecting pins: to stabilize the organism
Dissecting scissors: to cut the organism
Dissecting tray: To hold the organism

44. Medicine Dropper:
Transports or measures out small amounts of a liquid

45. Forceps:
Similar to tweezers; used to grab small objects

46. Funnel:
Used when pouring things from one container to another to avoid spills

47. Graduated Cylinder:
Designed to make accurate volume measurements which are always read from the bottom of the curve (meniscus)
The smaller the cylinder, the more precise measurement
Get eye level to read

48. Hand Lens
Magnifies small objects up to 10 times

49. Microscope
Used to view very small objects at a magnification of 40 to 100 times

50. Petri Dish
Flat disk with a cover used primarily to grow bacteria

51. Pipette
Used to transport liquids (usually small drops)

52. Probe
A pointed object used to examine organisms (used during dissection)

53. Metric Ruler
Used to measure length

54. Safety Goggles
To protect your eyes

55. Scalpel
A small blade used to cut tissues

56. Test Tube: Made of special glass; used to carry and heat chemicals
Test tube clamp is used to carry test tube
Hold at 45° angle away from you and others to heat

57. Test Tube Rack
Designed to hold test tubes

58. Thermometer
An instrument for determining temperature

59. Triple Beam Balance
An instrument used for measuring mass

60. Erlenmeyer Flask
Commonly used for storing & mixing liquids

61. Florence Flask
Commonly used for storing & mixing liquids

62. LAB Safety

63. The most important Lab Safety Rule……..
Always follow directions

64. Goggles
Goggles should always be worn when chemicals are used, heated, or mixed.

65. Chemical Rules:
If you get chemicals in your eyes or on your skin, wash for 15 minutes.
Never EVER point a test tube or bottle that you are heating toward yourself or anyone else.
Wave or waffle scents toward you, do not EVER smell directly over a chemical!

66. Chemical Rules:
If you need to smell a chemical, hold it 6 inches away from your nose and wave the fumes toward your nose.
NEVER smell chemicals directly!!!!

67. Cleanliness:
Your lab area should always be clean when you start a lab and when you finish a lab.
If a toxic substance was used, follow proper disposal directions given by your teacher.

68. Just say NO:
Horseplay is NEVER allowed in the lab. If you are caught horse-playing you will be kicked out of the lab.
Food, drinks or gum is NOT allowed to be out during a lab.

69. Dress Code: Always tie long hair back Closed-toe shoes only
No loose clothing; roll baggy sleeves up tight
If it dangles, it’s dangerous!!!

70. Fire: If there is a fire in the room, notify the teacher IMMEDIATELY.
If the fire is on you, stop, drop, and roll.

72. Its better to be safe than sorry
Always remember:
Its better to be safe than sorry
Tell the teacher if any accident occurs

73. Safety Symbols

74. Clothing Protection

75. Biological

76. Corrosive

77. Disposal Safety

78. Electrical Safety

79. Extreme Temperatures

80. Fumes

81. Sharp Object Safety

82. Toxic

83. Irritant

84. Flammable

85. Eye Safety

86. Animal Safety

87. Microscope

88. Ocular or Eyepiece
Arm
Stage

89. Body Tube
Revolving
Nosepiece
Objective
Lens
Coarse Focus
Fine Focus

90. Stage Clips
Diaphragm
Mirror or Light Source
Base

91. The kind of microscope we use at Pearl High school is the Compound Light Microscope.

92. This type of microscope can view cell organelles but it can not view DNA.

93. Proper use of the microscope:
Always carry microscope with one hand on the arm and the other hand on the base.

94. When preparing a slide, always put the cover slip on at a 45 degree angle.

95. If there are air bubbles, gently tap cover slip with a pencil eraser.

96. The purpose of the cover slip is to prevent the lens from touching whatever you are viewing.

97. Any object viewed under a microscope will appear upside down and backwards.

98. The objective contains the magnification powers of the microscope.
They are attached to the nosepiece which revolves so you can go from low to high power easily.

99. To determine magnification of the microscope, multiply the objective times the ocular.

100. 10 power
40 power
Magnification =?

101. You will get the widest field of view with the least magnification.
Which has the widest field of view?
Ocular 10X Objective 20X
Ocular 10X Objective 40X