1. The Scientific Method

2. What is the scientific method plain?
All scientists use a variety of scientific steps to obtain knowledge and formulate strategies to answer questions.
scientific method 1 with exp. design
experimentation
experimentation 2
experimentation 3
experimentation 4

3. Observe and Ask Questions
All scientific understanding of our natural world is based on observation.
Observation is the most important part of the scientific method
Observation involves one of our five senses.
There can be many questions at the beginning of an investigation, but generally, a scientist will try to answer one at a time.

5. Collect Initial Data and Hypothesize
Initial data is usually obtained by observation, measurement, or sampling.
That initial data is then used to make a hypothesis (an educated guess) to answer the question.
A hypothesis MUST be TESTABLE.

6. Forming a Hypothesis
It is just before dinner time and you see taco meat cooking on the stove…
Your hypothesis is _______________
It’s your birthday and you walk into a room to find your friend suddenly pushing something behind the couch. You see scissors and tape lying on the floor…

7. Set Up an Experiment!! All experiments will contain 2 groups
control group – under normal conditions
experimental group- contains the manipulated factor (a variable is changed)
There will also be 3 variables in each experiment
1. independent variable-
the ONE difference between the control group &
experimental group
2. dependent variable- data that can be measured
3. EXTRAneous variables – variables that MUST be
consistent between both the control group &

8. Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions
After collecting data in the experiment, we then analyze it and infer to determine a conclusion.
Question: Does our data support our hypothesis?
IF “NO”  we change our hypothesis and start over
IF “YES” check to make sure our data agrees again, if it continues to be upheld scientific theories and laws may result!
Report our findings to the scientific community!!

9. Some PAST Projects!!

13. It’s YOUR turn!!