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Published byMartha Bell Modified over 9 years ago
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The Scientific Method
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The Scientific Method- The steps taken in a specific order to get an answer to a posed problem.
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Steps of the Scientific Method 1.Problem 2.Hypothesis 3.Experiment 4.Results 5.Conclusion
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Step 1: Identify the Problem Using observations, identify a problem you would like to solve. o Observations are done with your five senses to gather information. o Ask questions that lead to a problem.
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Step 1: Identify the Problem Two types of observations: –Quantitative observations—deal with numbers Ex. 100 degrees outside –Qualitative observations—deal with a description Ex. Its hot outside.
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Step 2: Develop a Hypothesis A hypothesis is a possible answer to a scientific question. o Not a fact (prediction) o Based on observations and knowledge o Must be testable
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Step 2: Develop a Hypothesis Write your hypothesis using your variables (what is changing) Hypothesis Format: –“If (what is changing on purpose) then (what is changing due to what you already changed) because… “If ______________________then ____________ ________________ because…
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Step 2: Develop a Hypothesis Example: Question: How does the amount of salt affect the temperature where water boils? Hypothesis: If there is more/less (circle one) salt then water will boil at a higher/lower (circle one) temperature because _____________________________. A scientist wants to know if water boils at a higher temperature when salt is added. Here is their experiment: One Quart of Boiling Water with NO SALT One Quart of Boiling Water with TWO TABLESPOONS OF SALT One Quart of Boiling Water with FOUR TABLESPOONS OF SALT
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Step 2: Develop a Hypothesis Example: Maria is from planet DontKnowALot. She is doing an experiment. She has three people in her experiment. Maria will measure the amount of weight that each person gains after a month. Question: How does the type of liquid affect how much weight a person gains? Hypothesis: If _________________________________________, then _______________________________________________ because _____________________________________________. Person 1 will drink only water. Person 2 will drink only juice. Person 3 will drink only Coca Cola.
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Independent Practice: Complete Figure 2 on developing a hypothesis.
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The Scientific Method
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Step 3: Test the Hypothesis Materials: A list of all the things you need Procedure Step by step instructions Identifies the variables used in the experiment Testing the hypothesis is simply conducting the experiment (materials and procedure.
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Step 3: Test the Hypothesis Variables - factors that can change in an experiment, must be the same. Variables Video
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Step 3: Test the Hypothesis Independent Variable - the one variable that is purposely changed to test a hypothesis
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Step 3: Test the Hypothesis Dependent Variable-the factor that may change in response to the independent variable
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Step 3: Test the Hypothesis Controlled Experiment-an experiment in which only one variable is changed at a time
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Guided Practice: Which people in the experiment are in the control group?
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Guided Practice: What are the independent and dependent variables? Explain.
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Guided Practice: What should Mr. Krabb’s conclusion be? Why is Group B reporting feeling better?
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Independent Practice: Complete worksheet on conducting an experiment.
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The Scientific Method
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Step 4: Results Collecting data is writing down the results of the experiment. Data should be recorded in a table.
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Step 4: Results Data- are the facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through qualitative and quantitative observations.
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Step 4: Parts of a Graph
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Guided Practice: With your partner, use the data below to create a graph. Height of the Plant by Day with Fertilizer DayHeight (cm) 115 218 323 424 5 21
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Guided Practice: Graphing
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The Scientific Method
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Step 5: Conclusion A conclusion is a summary of what you have learned from an experiment. Ask yourself: Does my data support my hypothesis?
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Step 5: Conclusion Communicating is the sharing of ideas and results with others through speaking and writing. Before an experiment is published other scientists must test it for accuracy.
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Step 5: Conclusion Scientific theory- a well-tested and widely accepted explanation of observations and experimental results.
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Step 5: Conclusion Scientific law-describe observed patterns in nature without trying to explain those patterns.
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