1. Scientific Method

2. What is Science?
Science involves asking questions about nature and finding ways to answer them (ex. Will you get wetter running home in the rain or walking home in the rain?)
Curiosity fuels science…… why is the sky blue? Why do some plants live all year and some only part of the year?
Science is a system of knowledge and the methods you use to find that knowledge
Science begins with curiosity and often ends with discovery

3. How do we “do” science?
- ….

4. Why do we use the Scientific Method?
Organized Plan for gathering and communicating information
Solve Problems or better understand an observed event
Consistent method used throughout all scientific experiments
This allows experiments to be repeated

5. The Scientific Method

6. 1. Ask a Question Make an observation
Observation- information you obtain through your senses
Ex. Plants grow better at the center of yard rather than along forest line
Ask a question about the observation
Ex. Why do the plants grow better in the center of the yard

7. 2. Research Do Background Research about your topic
Use all available resources…. Internet, books, experts in the field, scientific journals
Keep a list of your resources for later
Ex. Talk to a botanist, look up scientific journals on plants, use botany books, use internet

8. 3. Form a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a proposed answer to the question (an educated guess)
Written in If…..then…..because… form
What are some possible hypotheses for our plant example?

9. 4. Test a Hypothesis
Create a Procedure (Extremely important that this is well detailed so it experiment can be recreated…think back to PB&J)
Variables- any factor that can change
Independent (manipulated) Variable- variable that causes change in another, this is the variable controlled by scientist (ex. Sun exposure)
Dependent (responding) Variable- Variable that responds to independent variable (ex. Plant growth)
Perform Experiment
Take notes on observations throughout the experiment
Collect Data
Create tables to record all measurements
Make sure everything you do or measure is accurate

10. 5. Analyze Data Interpret and organize data
Create graphs or charts to show trends in data
Ex. Graph of plant growth vs. sunlight exposure

11. Conclusion Analyze your data Support or Reject your hypothesis
This is the part where you explain what your data (graphs and tables) mean
Support or Reject your hypothesis
State whether your data supports or rejects hypothesis
It is OKAY if your hypothesis is wrong!