1. Interactive Notebook (comp. ntbk)
Set Up your notebook so you have an “In” “Out”, “Through” format.
“In Activity”: What is Science? List two things!
Body of Knowledge (Bunch of information)
Process (scientific method)
Step 1

2. Interactive Notebook (comp. ntbk)
“In Activity”: What is Science? List two things!
Body of Knowledge (Bunch of information)
Process (scientific method)
Step 1

3. SCIENTIFIC METHOD NOTES
Name_____________
Per______Date_____
SCIENTIFIC METHOD NOTES
Step 1

4. Steps of the Scientific Method
Observation: Use the 5 senses to observe
Question: Create a scientific question
Hypothesis: Create a prediction
Procedure: Write the steps of the experiment
Collect and Record Data: Build a data table.
Conclusions: What does the data tell you?

5. Make an Observation
Step 1
Observation involves using all 5 senses to gather information. These senses are:
sight
hearing
touch
smell
taste
You might observe the plant wilting and turning brown.
Step 1

6. Making Observations
Step 1
Take a moment to observe a penny and draw a diagram of your observations right below your notes so far. Can you see Lincoln on the tails side?

7. Posing a Question:
Step 2
A scientific question is one that can be answered by gathering evidence. (Testable)
“I wonder why my tomato plant died?”
Step 1

8. Practice: Scientific Question or Not?
Look at the following questions and decide which are scientific (testable) and which are not. Number your paper 1-5 and write scientific or not scientific for each.
What is the effect of cigarette smoke on lungs?
Why is blue the best color in the world?
Why did the grass turn brown?
What is the effect of study time on test grades?
Why is basketball a boring sport?
Step 1

9. Scientific Question or Not?
What is the effect of cigarette smoke on lungs? Scientific
Why is blue the best color in the world? Not Scientific
Why did the grass turn brown? Scientific
What is the effect of study time on test grades? Scientific
Why is basketball a boring sport? Not Scientific
Step 1

10. Hypothesis
Step 3
A possible explanation that relates to a scientific question.
Must be testable by observation
If…..then….because
I predict….. because
Example: If I don’t expose my tomato plant to enough sunlight, then it may die because sunlight is needed for the photosynthetic process.
Step 1

11. Procedures (Design Your Experiment)
Step 4
A very detailed list of instructions that can be understood and repeated.
Use numbers or bullets for each step. (Numbers are better.)
Step 1

12. Practicing Procedure Writing
Write the procedure for tying a pair of shoes.
Be detailed so someone else can follow your procedure.
Use a numbered list.
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13. Variables All the factors that can change during an experiment.
Three main types
controlled variables,
Manipulated (independent) variables and
Responding (dependent) variables.
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14. Controlled Variables
Controlled variables are found in controlled experiments where two or more objects are compared.
These are the variables that are kept exactly the same in two tests. (Same kind of plants, same amount of soil, same amount of water, etc…)
Step 1

15. Manipulated Variable (Independent Variable)
This is the one variable the scientist changes. (Amount of sunlight.)
Step 1

16. Responding Variable
(Dependent Variable)
The variable that is expected to change because of the manipulated variable. (The tomato plant’s growth.)
Step 1

17. Data
The facts, figures and other evidence that you learn through observation are called data.
Data comes in two forms, qualitative and quantitative data.
Step 1

18. Qualitative Data
Qualitative data is data that describes color, odor or sound. This data does not involve measurement or numbers.
Step 1

19. Quantitative Data
Quantitative Data are measurements made using standard units, such as mass in grams (g) or density in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3)
Step 1

20. Collect and record Data
Step 5
Use a data table for recording numbers, descriptions, and other observations.
Step 1

21. Interpreting Data
Step 5
Scientists identify trends or patterns within the collected data to figure out what they mean. (My tomato plant grew taller over a period of days with more sunlight.)
Step 1

22. Drawing Conclusions:
Step 6
A conclusion states whether the data supported the hypothesis or showed it to be false. (My hypothesis was correct; my tomato plants did need more sunlight to maintain healthy growth.)
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23. Out question
A student wanted to tell if plants were influenced by music. She set up an experiment to test two plants. One with music and one without music.
List 3 controlled variables.
List the manipulated variable.
List the dependent variable.
Step 1