1. Scientific Investigations
SC.8.N.1.1
Today we are going to talk about Scientific Investigations…. We’re going to discuss the Scientific Method and its importance in dealing with problem solving.
Define a problem from the eighth grade curriculum using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various types, such as systematic observations or
experiments, identify variables, collect and organize data, interpret data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions.

2. RECORD & ANALYZE RESULTS
Scientific Method
PROBLEM STATEMENT
RESEARCH THE PROBLEM
The Scientific Method involves a series of steps designed to help support a theory or hypothesis
HYPOTHESIS
EXPERIMENT
RECORD & ANALYZE DATA
The Scientific Method is a logical problem solving technique used to investigate natural occurrences, make decisions, and form new ideas. The Scientific Method involves a series of steps designed to help support a theory or hypothesis
RECORD & ANALYZE RESULTS
FORM A CONCLUSION

3. Ask a question or make an observation
Scientific Method
1st
Ask a question or make an observation
What are you curious about, or what have you seen that makes you wonder?
The first step is to state the problem being researched. The problem must be testable and written in the form of a question. In order for an experiment to be testable it must have an identified control group and an experimental group. The key is identifying and managing the three requirements involved in the experimental group. The three requirements include the independent (test), the dependent (outcome), and the constant variables.

4. Scientific Method Research the problem
2nd
Research the problem
The problem must be researched using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding
The second step involves researching the problem. The problem must be researched using appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding. Research may be collected from various resources including: books, the internet, personal experiences, initial investigations, or expert opinions on the subject.

5. Scientific Method Put Hypothesis
3rd
Put Hypothesis
The hypothesis is an educated guess based on the research from the previous step
The third step is creating a hypothesis. The hypothesis is an educated guess based on the research from the previous step. The hypothesis may be written as a simple “If and then” statement that predicts the outcome of the experiment. A hypothesis is valuable because they lead to further investigations, even if they turn out not to be supported by the data.

6. Scientific Method Design Experiment Listing and gathering materials +
Developing and carrying out the procedures
The fourth step of the scientific method is designing the experiment. This step involves listing and gathering materials, developing and carrying out the procedures, as well as, identifying a control group and an experimental group.

7. Experiment Components
Materials
Procedure
Control group
Experimental group
Experiment components are Materials, Procedure, Control group, & Experimental group…. We’re going to talk about each in much more details..

8. Experiment Components
Materials
The materials list consists of specific information about the amounts, sizes, and colors of each item that will be used in the experiment.
The materials are a list of all the supplies used to carry out the experiment. The materials list consists of specific information about the amounts, sizes, and colors of each item that will be used in the experiment.

9. Experiment Components
Procedure
The procedure is a numbered vertical list of the step-by-step directions for carrying
out the experiment.
The procedure is a numbered vertical list of the step-by-step directions for carrying out the experiment. The procedure is clearly written with details so concise that another experimenter could easily perform the same experiment. The experiment must be repeated a minimum of three times (three trials) for reliability.

10. Experiment Components
Control group
The control group is the part of the experiment that remains the same so that it may be used as a comparison to the independent variable.
The control group is the part of the experiment that remains the same so that it may be used as a comparison to the independent variable. The control is the variable that is usually the "normal" outcome as it compares to the outcome being explored in the independent variable(s).
In this picture, A is the control group !!

11. Experiment Components
Experimental group
Variables
Independent variables
Dependant Variables
The experimental group includes the variables in the experiment. The independent variable (test variable) is the variable that is changed on purpose in order to test its affects against the control group.
The key to any controlled experiment is that the constant variables (controlled variable) be kept the same during the experiment. Controlling the variables ensures that any change that occurs is only because of the independent variable. The controlled variables are to be kept the same for both, the control and the independent groups.
The dependent variable is the variable being measured in your experiment. This variable will change based on the independent variable.

12. This data may be organized in a journal, table,
Scientific Method
5th
Organize Data
This data may be organized in a journal, table,
chart, or graph
The fifth step is to record and organize the collection of data and/or observations. The information collected is called data. This data may be organized in a journal, table, chart, or graph.

13. Scientific Method Analyze Results
Comparative phrases such as, “more than,” “less than,” etc. are instrumental in writing a results paragraph
The sixth step is to analyze the results. Looking at your data, you must figure out exactly what the information means. The results of the experiment should be written based on the collected data, both quantitative and qualitative, of the experiment. Comparative phrases such as, “more than,” “less than,” etc. are instrumental in writing a results paragraph.

14. Scientific Method Conclusion
At this stage, you must write a summary that indicates whether or not the results support or fail to support your original hypothesis
The final step of the scientific method is to draw a conclusion. At this stage, you must write a summary that indicates whether or not the results support or fail to support your original hypothesis. It is always important to understand that science does not offer conclusive proof of a knowledge claim.

15. Place the steps in order:
Procedure
Place the steps in order:
Place one drop of
food coloring into
the cups of water
Pour 20 milliliters
of water into
each cup
Label three cups,
A, B, and C
Stir the food
coloring in
each of the cups
A B C D
Label three cups,
A, B, and C
STEP 1:
Pour 20 milliliters
of water into
each cup
STEP 2:
To work through a scientific experiment, you must complete a series of steps or procedures. Let’s see if you can list each step of this particular experiment in the order in which they belong. Step one? (Wait for student response.) Good job. Step one is to label three cups A, B, and C. How about step two? (Wait for student response.) That’s absolutely right. Pour 20 milliliters of water into each cup. Step three? (Wait for student response.) Excellent. Place one drop of food coloring into the cups of water. And step four? (Wait for student response.) Perfect. Stir the food coloring in each of the cups.
Place one drop of
food coloring into
the cups of water
STEP 3:
Stir the food
coloring in
each of the cups
STEP 4: