1. I have noticed some things…
Using the scientific method

2. My observations were… All scientific questions and studies start here!
I have noticed a lot of students chewing things like gum, candy, or sunflower seeds.

3. Observations vs. Inference
Inferences
Using your senses or a tool to record an event, characteristic, or behavior
NO BIAS
Example:
A logical conclusion drawn from observations and prior knowledge
Example:

4. Qualitative vs. Quantitative Observations
A measured observation
Example: Miss Smith is 162 cm tall.
A useful, descriptive observation
Example: the substance in the flask is giving of a pungent odor

5. My Problem (Question)
Scientific questions must be able to be answered by observations and gathering evidence
questions come from observations
must be testable through experimentation, survey or research
Deal with the natural world
Be genuine, something we don’t already know the answer to
How many chews does it take to finish a tootsie roll?

6. Some information I know..
Gather information & do research
They are kind of difficult to chew
They are a little thick

7. My hypothesis A possible explanation for your problem or questions
Not a fact
Must be testable
“If…., Then…” statements
If tootsie rolls are difficult to chew, then it will take 50 chews to finish one tootsie roll.

8. My experiment Must have clear steps
Must be controlled- only change 1 variable at a time
Variable- factors that can change in an experiment
Independent- the 1 factor you change
Dependent- factor that may change in response to independent variable
Contstants- factors that remain the same
Must have a control group- nothing is changed so you can compare your results
Count how many chews it takes to finish a tootsie roll

9. Next step, Collect Data Tables should be created before you begin
Facts and figures gathered through observation and experiment
graphs

10. Conclusions Summary of what you found
Did my results support or refute my hypothesis?
What’s next?!
Need more tests!
Why?

11. Do your results support your hypothesis?
Test again to get more support

12. Do your results disprove your hypothesis?
Re-work or re-write your hypothesis and continue through steps from there

13. Theory vs. Law
Theory – well tested, repeatable hypothesis that attempts to answer WHY- ACCEPTED AS TRUE UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE
***Not always true or proven.
Example: Theory of Evolution
Law- A statement meant to DESCRIBE an action or set of actions
***Proven to be true ALL the time
Example: Newton’s 1st Law of Motion- an object at rest stays at rest unless acted upon by an outside force

14. Sample Experiment Test the Hypothesis – Example of a Test
Experimental Scenario: Ms. Freeman and Ms. Dowd wanted to determine if there was a correlation between eating a nutritionally balanced breakfast and success on tests. One group of students was given a healthy breakfast and another group ate their normal breakfast before a test. They found that 7 out of 10 students who ate the healthy breakfast scored 80% or better on tests while 5 out of 10 students who ate their regular breakfast scored 80% or better on tests.
Identify the following from the above experimental scenario:
Independent Variable: ___________________________________
Dependent Variable: ____________________________________
Controlled Variables: ____________________________________
Control Group: ________________________________________
Experimental Group: ____________________________________