1. What is the Scientific Method?

2. Scientific
Science = something we use during science class or something that a scientist would use.

3. Method
Method = a way of doing something, or the steps you take to complete a task.

4. Scientific Method
The steps that scientists use to solve a problem or conduct an investigation!

5. What are the steps of the scientific method?
Background Information
Problem
Hypothesis
Materials
Procedure
Data
Discussion
Conclusion

6. Let’s talk about them one at a time!

7. Background Information
Background information is information that you research before you conduct your investigation.
It might be information you already know!
This information helps you clearly understand your topic before you begin conducting experiments.
This might include safety information!

8. If you were doing an experiment with M&M’s, would you have any Background information?
Sure you would!
What colors do they come in?
What types of M&M’s are there?
What else can you come up with about M&M’s?

9. You see, you are already very smart!

10. Problem
A problem is the question you (the scientist) plan to answer by conducting the scientific investigation.

11. Think of this problem about Open House?
Problem: What will happen if your parents come to open house?
A Problem is always stated as a question. It is the question that you want to solve or answer during your scientific investigation.

12. Hypothesis
The hypothesis is an educated guess or explanation that answers the question in the problem. This is what you THINK the answer might be.

13. A hypothesis should be written as an IF/THEN statement!
Cause and effect
When one thing happens it causes another thing to happen.
Example: If I run in the hall, Then I will get hurt.

14. Let’s Practice! Look at the overhead and read the stories,
What are some possible hypotheses?
Try to list at least 10 for each!

15. Let’s Practice with Data!
Look at the DATA on the overhead and write a complete hypothesis for each!
If the amount of salt added to water is increased, Then the temperature at which boiling starts will increase
The amount of salt can be changed, so it is the “if” statement. It causes the temperature to change, so the temperature change is the “then” statement.

16. Let’s Practice with Data!
If the number of turns of wire is increased, Then the number of paper clips picked up will increase.
The number of turns of wire causes the number of paper clips picked up to increase, so the turns of wire is the if statement and the paper clips picked up is the then statement. The ammeter reading did not change, we call this a constant, it is not included in the hypothesis.

17. Let’s Practice with Data!
If different size pieces of sugar are put in hot water, then the smaller size pieces will dissolve faster.
The size of the sugar controls the time it takes to dissolve. So the size of the sugar is the cause or “if statement and the time to dissolve is the effect or the “then statement.

18. Let’s Practice for Homework!
Write a hypothesis to the following problems:
1. What will happen if I don’t wear safety goggles in the lab?
2. What will happen if I don’t complete my homework?
3. How many drops of water can a penny hold?
4. If we fill a baby food jar with water, then how many drops of water will it take to cause the jar to overflow?

19. Materials
This is the list of supplies and equipment that you will need to prove whether
or not your
hypothesis
is correct.

20. Rules for listing materials
1. Be descriptive! (tell me the size, shape, color etc.)
2. Be precise! (Say 50ml of water and not a little bit of water)
3. Don’t forget what you will need to clean up!
4. If you need a liquid, you’ll need something to hold the liquid in.

21. Procedure
The list of steps that you will follow to prove whether or not your hypothesis was accepted or rejected.
These will be numbered steps, in exactly the order that you will follow them.
List each step separately and be as descriptive as possible.

22. Data
Data can be displayed in charts or graphs!

23. Discussion
These are the questions that you have thought of during the experiment!
Things that you wonder about!

24. AND NOW….
THE BIGGIE….
Conclusion

25. Conclusion
The Conclusion is the answer to the problem, that you discovered during your scientific investigation.
The Conclusion has 5 parts…
1. The hypothesis was accepted/rejected.
2. It Stated…
3. To test the hypothesis…
4. During the test it was observed…
5. Therefore…

26. Let’s Practice
Write a conclusion for one of the hypotheses that you made in the previous section. You can make up the details of the lab, just use correct format.

27. If the number of turns of
wire is increased,
Then the number
of paper clips
picked up will increase.

28. Paper Clip Lab
The Hypothesis is accepted. It stated, If the number of turns of wire is increased, Then the number of paper clips picked up will increase. To test the hypothesis, wire was wrapped around a nail 5, 10 and 15 times, the end of wire was connected to a battery and we attempted to pick up paper clips with the nail.

29. Paper Clip Lab
During the test it was observed, that the more times we wrapped the wire around the nail, the more paper clips it picked up. When the wire was wrapped around the nail 5 times, the nail picked up 4 paper clips. When the wire was wrapped around the nail 10 times, the nail picked up 8 paper clips. When the wire was wrapped around the nail 15 times, the nail picked up 12 paper clips.

30. Paper Clip Lab
Therefore the conclusion is the same as the hypothesis, which stated If the number of turns of wire is increased, Then the number of paper clips picked up will increase.

31. You should practice writing more conclusions, we will be writing a lot of conclusions through out the school year.

32. Great Job!
Now let’s review. On your own paper write down just the answers to the following questions.
List the 8 steps of the scientific method in order.
Which step of the scientific method is the questions that arise during the lab experiment?
Which step of the scientific method comes before procedure?

33. Now let’s say the 8 steps of the scientific method all together!
Background Information
Problem
Hypothesis
Materials
Procedure
Data
Discussion
Conclusion

34. You are almost ready for the scientific method test!
Congratulations!
You are almost ready for the scientific method test!