2. By Mrs. Kerry Mohan Science Educator Paint Valley Local School District

3. Project Overview The lesson goals are to learn the seven steps of the scientific method and be able to apply the steps in hypothetical experiments. The lesson goals are to learn the seven steps of the scientific method and be able to apply the steps in hypothetical experiments. Target Audience is any science student in grades 6 – 12. Target Audience is any science student in grades 6 – 12. The interactive lesson format was chosen due to its innate opportunity to offer additional practice of a concept that is the foundation of science. The interactive lesson format was chosen due to its innate opportunity to offer additional practice of a concept that is the foundation of science.

4. Introduction: Introduction: The Scientific Method is a systematic way to determine the answer to a problem. It involves seven steps and is a method used by all scientists who perform experiments. Instructions: Read the material. Click on the blue icon to advance to the next slide. Answer the questions to advance through the lesson. Instructions: Read the material. Click on the blue icon to advance to the next slide. Answer the questions to advance through the lesson. Time Allotted: You will have 50 minutes to complete this lesson. Time Allotted: You will have 50 minutes to complete this lesson. Lesson Goal: You will learn the seven steps of the scientific method and be able to recognize the parts in hypothetical experiments so that they may be applied in your own scientific explorations. Lesson Goal: You will learn the seven steps of the scientific method and be able to recognize the parts in hypothetical experiments so that they may be applied in your own scientific explorations.

5. Test Your Knowledge on the Scientific Method Click on the light bulb to answer the question. The scientific method is a process that is used to devise scientific theories and laws. TRUEFALSE

6. Congratulations! You’re correct! Scientists can use the scientific method to make scientific theories and laws. Click on the lightning bolt to find out more about the steps of the scientific method.

7. Sorry, that’s incorrect. Scientists can use the scientific method to make scientific theories and laws. Click on the lightning bolt to find out more about the steps of the scientific method.

8. The scientific method is a systematic way to solve a problem or answer a question. It’s a method that can be applied in your daily lives, not just in science class. So try it!! Ready to learn more? Click on the globe! Why the Scientific Method is Useful To You

9. General Steps of the Scientific Method 1.State the problem. (Purpose) 2.Gather information on the problem. (Research) 3.Form a hypothesis. 4.Design & perform the experiment(s) to test the hypothesis. 5.Record and analyze data. 6.State a conclusion. 7.Repeat and/or redesign.

10. State the Problem This is the purpose of the investigation or question to be answered in the investigation. This is the purpose of the investigation or question to be answered in the investigation. State what problem you want to solve or what question you want to answer. State what problem you want to solve or what question you want to answer.

11. Gather Information (Research) Use various resources to inform yourself about the parts of your investigation. This involves research!! Use various resources to inform yourself about the parts of your investigation. This involves research!! You must educate yourself about your investigation so that you can make an “educated guess” to test. You must educate yourself about your investigation so that you can make an “educated guess” to test.

12. Develop a Hypothesis A hypothesis is an educated guess proposes an answer to your question or a solution to your problem. A hypothesis is an educated guess proposes an answer to your question or a solution to your problem. The hypothesis is what you are testing in an investigation. The hypothesis is what you are testing in an investigation. Let’s choose an example and work through the first three steps of the scientific method together. Let’s choose an example and work through the first three steps of the scientific method together.

13. What’s the problem? Click on the car to check your answer. What’s the problem? Click on the car to check your answer. How can we gather information about the problem? Click on the car once again to check your answer. How can we gather information about the problem? Click on the car once again to check your answer. What are some possible hypotheses we could investigate? Click on the car one more time to see some possibilities. What are some possible hypotheses we could investigate? Click on the car one more time to see some possibilities.

14. The Problem can be written as ……. Why won’t my car start? What is causing my car not to start? The purpose is to find out why my car will not start.

15. Where to go to find info.? Research information on cars from owner’s manuals, car repair books, conduct an interview with an automotive technician, search for information on the internet, etc.

16. Possible hypotheses are I predict that the car will not start because the battery is dead. I predict the car will not start because the car’s engine is not receiving gas. I predict that the car will not start because the starter is bad.

17. Perform the experiment Design and perform an experiment that will test your hypothesis for accuracy. Design and perform an experiment that will test your hypothesis for accuracy. To do this you must be able to identify your variables. To do this you must be able to identify your variables.

18. Variables The “thing” that is being changed by the experimenter. The “thing” that is being changed by the experimenter. There can only be ONE manipulated variable. There can only be ONE manipulated variable. Also called the independent variable. Also called the independent variable. The “thing” that reacts (responds) to what the experimenter changed (manipulated). The “thing” that reacts (responds) to what the experimenter changed (manipulated). This is the “thing” you are measuring. This is the “thing” you are measuring. Also called the dependent variable. Also called the dependent variable. Manipulated Variable Responding Variable

19. One more type of variable... These are the “things” that stay the same throughout the investigation or experiment. These are the “things” that stay the same throughout the investigation or experiment. In the setup of your experiment, you can only have one manipulated variable, this means all other variables must be controlled (kept the same). In the setup of your experiment, you can only have one manipulated variable, this means all other variables must be controlled (kept the same). Controlled Variables

20. Possible hypothesis: If gas is put into the car, the car will start. Possible hypothesis: If gas is put into the car, the car will start. What’s the manipulated variable? What’s the manipulated variable? What are some controlled variables? What are some controlled variables? What is the responding variable? What is the responding variable?

21. Record and Analyze Data Data includes the measurements and/or observations you make about the responding variable. Data includes the measurements and/or observations you make about the responding variable. But first, you must determine what type of data (called observations) you will collect. But first, you must determine what type of data (called observations) you will collect.

22. Types of Observations Observation that measures such things as size, weight, distance, volume, etc. Observation that measures such things as size, weight, distance, volume, etc. This observation MUST use a number. This observation MUST use a number. Observation that describes using details such as size, color, shape. Observation that describes using details such as size, color, shape. This observation uses NO numbers. This observation uses NO numbers. QuantitativeQualitative

23. Examples Jane is five feet tall. Jane is five feet tall. There are 65 cars on the train. There are 65 cars on the train. I wear a size 8 shoe. I wear a size 8 shoe. The gas tank holds 18 gallons. The gas tank holds 18 gallons. Jane is taller than Jack. Jane is taller than Jack. The walls are gray. The walls are gray. Oranges are round. Oranges are round. Jack is heavier than Jane. Jack is heavier than Jane. Quantitative Qualitative

24. Quantitative or Qualitative? Which type of observation is most useful in a science investigation? Which type of observation is most useful in a science investigation? QUANTITATIVE!! Why? QUANTITATIVE!! Why?

25. Your conclusions should consist of your best explanations for given observations. Your conclusions should consist of your best explanations for given observations. Your conclusion should answer the questions: What happened? and Why did it happen? Your conclusion should answer the questions: What happened? and Why did it happen?

26. Repeat and/or Redesign In order to confirm results, you should always repeat your experiments numerous times. If there are ways to improve your experiment, you should redesign it until it properly tests your hypothesis. In order to confirm results, you should always repeat your experiments numerous times. If there are ways to improve your experiment, you should redesign it until it properly tests your hypothesis. Remember! A single experiment never “proves” a hypothesis to be true, it only supports or does not support a hypothesis. Remember! A single experiment never “proves” a hypothesis to be true, it only supports or does not support a hypothesis.

27. How would we perform the experiment to test our hypothesis ? (If gas is put into the car, it will start.) How would we perform the experiment to test our hypothesis ? (If gas is put into the car, it will start.) How would we collect and analyze our data? How would we collect and analyze our data? If the car starts, what can we conclude? If the car starts, what can we conclude? If the car doesn’t start, what can we conclude? How could we redesign our experiment to find out why the car won’t start? If the car doesn’t start, what can we conclude? How could we redesign our experiment to find out why the car won’t start?

28. Let’s apply what we’ve learned…. Click on the lightning bolt to apply what you have learned about the scientific method.

29. Apply what you’ve learned….. To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B do not put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment. To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B do not put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment. What is the manipulated variable? Amount of Water Aspirin Carnations Time the flowers stay fresh

30. Apply what you’ve learned….. To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B, do not put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment. To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B, do not put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment. What is the responding variable? Amount of Water Size of beakers Size of carnations Time the flowers stay fresh

31. Apply what you’ve learned….. ”If the amount of sunlight available increases, the rate of photosynthesis in a plant will also increase.” This statement is an example of a(n) Conclusion Analysis Purpose Hypothesis

32. Apply what you’ve learned….. The effect of one minute of walking and one minute of running on the pulse and respiration rates of a human. In this experiment, what is/are the responding variable(s)? Speed Time Pulse & Respiration Rates Walking & Running

33. Apply what you’ve learned….. If you were doing research on the deadly E-bola virus, which resource in the library would give the most current information? InternetBook World Book Encyclopedia Reader’s Guide

34. Apply what you’ve learned….. The effect of one minute of walking and one minute of running on the pulse and respiration rates of a human. In this experiment, what is/are the controlled variable(s)? Speed Time Pulse & Respiration Rates Walking & Running

35. Apply what you’ve learned….. Scientists must analyze the results of an experiment before they: Form a hypothesis Perform experiment Identify a control Draw a conclusion

36. Apply what you’ve learned….. A student plants one marigold seed into each of three pots. One pot she uses soil from a flower bed outside her house, one pot she plants with soil from a garden store, and one she plants into rocks. She uses a pitcher and waters each seed. She puts a pot on the window sill of her kitchen, one under the grow lights on her porch and one in a bag. She waits three days and makes her first observation. This is not a well prepared experiment. Think of at least 3 reasons why this is not a good experiment. Then click on the light bulb.

37. THINKING….. Click on the light bulb to see if your thoughts are on target.

38. She didn’t control her variables. She used three different types of soil. She used three different types of soil. She used three different temperatures. She used three different temperatures. She used three different types of light She used three different types of lightsources. You will not be able to decide what it is You will not be able to decide what it is that is causing one seed to grow better than another.

39. An Example of A Science Fair Project Using the Scientific Method Problem Research Hypothesis Experiment Data Conclusion Repeat and redesign

40. Testing Your Knowledge Click on the icon below to take a quiz on the scientific method. Once you have finished, print your quiz with the answers and give it to your teacher.

41. Intel ISF Intel ISF http://www.sciserv.org/isef/primer/scientific_method.asp Plymouth Schools Plymouth Schools http://plymouthschools.com/Science/scifair/scimeth7.htm Complete Guide to Science Fair Complete Guide to Science Fair www.scifair.org Science Fair Central http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/han dbook/scientificmethod.html Science Fair Central http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/han dbook/scientificmethod.html http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/han dbook/scientificmethod.html http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/han dbook/scientificmethod.html Science Fair Project Ideas http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/scientific_method.htm Science Fair Project Ideas http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/scientific_method.htm http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/scientific_method.htm Resources for Writing a Research Paper Using MLA Resources for Writing a Research Paper Using MLA http://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/ http://ourworld.cs.com/tonkteacher/owlmla.htm?f=fs

42. Research Experimen t Problem Success! Science Hypothesis Data Conclusion = Fair

43. Congratulations! You’re correct!

50. Sorry, that’s incorrect. Try again.