1. Why do you think it’s important for scientists to use a formal and organized method to conduct an experiment?

2. The Scientific Method Model, guide, or technique used to solve problems and to get information

3. 6 STEPS Always in the form of a question What you want to solve 1. State a Problem

4. Problem Under what color light will plants grow best?

5. 2. Form a Hypothesis EDUCATED GUESS Suggested answer to the problem Based on prior knowledge

6. Hypothesis I think the plant under green light will grow best because plants are green.

7. 3. Perform an Experiment TEST IF HYPOTHESIS IS RIGHT OR WRONG Gather materials Design procedures

8. Experiment Grow the plants for 5 weeks. Each is placed under a certain color light. They will get the same amount of light, & will be watered every 2 days. Their height will be measured (in centimeters) once a week.

9. 4. Record your RESULTS Writing down all data/observations that are made during the experiment How? Graphs, charts…

10. 2 4 6 8 10 12 Height (cm) PLANTS 123456 Observations Growth of plants

14. 5.State a Conclusion Answers the question stated in the problem States if the hypothesis is right or wrong? Explains data A conclusion is a multi-sentence statement that:

15. Conclusion My hypothesis was wrong. Plants grow best under blue light, not green light. The plant under blue light grew 11cm while the plant under green light grew only 2 cm.

16. 6.Repeat the experiment The entire experiment must be done again to be valid. Valid – proven to be logically true; to be proven legitimate To find any errors

17. Problem Hypothesis Experiment Results Conclusion Repeat Purple Hippos Eat Really Cold Raviolis

18. Do Now: Make a list of possible solutions for the following problem: A ping pong ball falls in a hole beyond your reach, how do you get it out? Possible solutions to getting the ping pong ball out of the hole are: 1._________________ 2._________________ 3._________________

19. 2 types of variables: 1. Independent Variable The factor that is purposely altered by the researcher, that may or may not lead to change in the dependent variable. Generally it is the factor that you are testing.

20. 2. Dependent Variable The factor that is being measured to see if the independent variable caused a change.

21. A Controlled Experiment contains two groups: 1. Experimental group All experiments are designed to be controlled Is the group of subjects that are being tested on. This group does receive the factor being tested called the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

22. 2. Control group Is the group of subjects that is used to compare to Does not contain the INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

23. What is the Independent variable is this experiment? The color of the light

24. Everything between the 2 groups must be exactly the same except for the Independent variable!!!

25. “SMARTtastic” A new company called Smartkids has created a new product called SMARTastic. The company claims that the product will increase your grades by ten points in one month. What is the variable?

26. Experimental Group Control group 100 students 7 th graders 85 average Take SMARTastic 100 students 7 th graders 85 average DO NOT take SMARTastic

27. Independent variable = ? SUNLIGHT

28. Dependent Variable? Growth of plant

30. What must be done to make results of an experiment more reliable or valid? Repeat experiment Use a larger sample size Use only one variable