1. What is science The Scientific Method
Unit 1
What is science
The Scientific Method

2. What is science?
Science is a process of gathering knowledge about the world around us
Goal of science: To understand and investigate the natural world, and to explain events and phenomena in the natural world.

3. Science is different because…
It is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.
Concepts or ideas must be testable
It is not a set of truths that never change
It is a set of stable ideas that can change with new evidence
Science is an ongoing process

4. The Scientific Method Why is it so important to follow this method?
Scientific ideas MUST be testable and repeatable.
The scientific method is the common process for establishing these ideas.

5. Think about the gum lab…..
The Scientific Method
Think about the gum lab…..
Ask a question
Gather background information
Can be gathered through research or the senses
Construct a hypothesis
Hypothesis is a prediction that suggests a solution to the question/problem
If…then…will happen
Must be testable

6. The Scientific Method Conduct an experiment to test the hypothesis
****Must be written step-by-step****
Materials: List of everything used
Procedure: Numbered steps.
Exactly what you did and how you did it.
Must be repeatable
Variables:
Controlled- Constant (doesn’t change)
Independent- Manipulated (is changed)
Dependent- the response or data

7. The Scientific Method Record and analyze data Types of Data:
Must be organized into chart, table, or graph
Types of Data:
Quantitative: Expressed as numbers, obtained by counting and measuring
Exact temperature, Weight, Height, Number of stems
Qualitative: Descriptions that involve characteristics that can’t usually be counted
Shiny/Dull, Old/New, Blue/Purple/Green
Inference: Logical interpretation based on prior knowledge or experience/observation.
Observation: What you can physically see.

8. Boy in the Pond Worksheet
Place an ‘I’ after statements that are inferences, and an ‘O’ after the statements that are observations.

9. The Scientific Method
Draw a conclusion and communicate your results
Did the data support or not support your hypothesis
You are never proving that a hypothesis is true, only supporting it.
Scientific Theory- Well tested hypothesis that has been repeatedly supported.

10. - What do you want to learn more about…
Asking a QUESTION:
- What do you want to learn more about…
Which type of music will have the greatest benefit on a student’s grade: Hard rock, pop, or classical? #1

11. - What information can we uncover to help us form an educated guess?#2
Gather background INFORMATION:
- What information can we uncover to help us form an educated guess?

12. Forming a HYPOTHESIS: #3
If students listened to classical music then it will improve their grades because I believe the melodies and soft tones promote learning.
Forming a HYPOTHESIS:
- Educated guess of an answer to the question
- Should be an “If…then….”
Statement (well supported) #3

13. a Conducting the EXPERIMENT: Materials #4 - Test your hypothesis
- Written and carefully followed step-by-step experiment designed to test hypothesis
40 students
30 iPods
10 copies of:
Led Zeppelin
Katy Perry
Bach’s Cello Suites
30 pre-tests
30 post-tests

14. c b Procedure - Step-by-step format - Numbered steps - Direct commands
Administer pre-test to all students
Begin unit on genetics
Assign 3 groups of 10 students a soundtrack to listen to. 10 students get no music to listen to.
Instruct students to study one hour a day – and only one hour a day – while listening to their assigned music
etc… etc… c
- Step-by-step format
- Numbered steps
- Direct commands
-Repeatable b
Procedure

15. c c
Controlled Variable: student population, others?
Independent Variable: types of music
Dependent Variable: academic success
4) Control Group: students studying in absence of music
Variables
- State the controlled (constant), independent (manipulated), and dependent (responding) variables
- Identify the control group if applicable

16. ANALYZE RESULTS:
-Interpret the information collected during the experiment
-Data includes charts, tables, PICTURES, and graphs (excel) #5

18. - Possible sources of error?
Drawing
CONCLUSIONS:
- Refer back to your hypothesis (supported, not supported? Why/why not?)
- Possible sources of error?
- What did you learn? #6