Notes: Scientific Method

Objective: What is the application of the scientific method?

Instructions:

Take the page and divide it into 6 equal boxes

Number the boxes

Notes: Scientific Method

1 2

3 4

5 6

Title Box 1: State the Problem

Form a problem based upon observations (5 sense) that can be tested through experimentation

Example (DO NOT WRITE DOWN) What is the effect of sunlight on plant growth?

Title Box 2: ResearchMake a hypothesis: testable possible explanation to an observation “If . . . Then . . Because”

Example (DO NOT WRITE DOWN) If sunlight has an effect on plant growth, then plants will grow larger in the sun because it is needed for photosynthesis

Title Box 3: Perform Experiment

Control Group: Doesn’t get treatment Used as comparison

Experimental Group Receives treatment

Limit Variables (changes) Independent variable – what you change

Dependent variable – what you observe/collecting data about

Title Box 4: Collect Data

Qualitative = descriptions of observations

Quantitative = numbers with units

Title Box 5: Conclusion

Interpret data What does it

mean? Does it support or

reject hypothesis?

Sources of error What could have

affected the results?

Partner Practice: Controls and Variables

You and your shoulder partner need to grab one of the following: Copy of the handout “Partner Practice: Controls and Variables”

One white board for the two of you

An expo marker

Krabb Patty Power Mr. Krabbs wants to make Bikini Bottoms a nicer place to live. He has created a new sauce that he thinks will reduce the production of body gas associated with eating crabby patties from the Krusty Krabb. He recruits 100 customers with a history of gas problems. He has 50 of them (Group A) eat crabby patties with the new sauce. The other 50 (Group B) eat crabby patties with sauce that looks just like new sauce but is really just mixture of mayonnaise and food coloring. Both groups were told that they were getting the sauce that would reduce gas production. Two hours after eating the crabby patties, 30 customers in group A reported having fewer gas problems and 8 customers in group B reported having fewer gas problems. 1. Which people are in the control group? 2. What is the independent variable? 3. What is the dependent variable? 4. What should Mr. Krabbs’ conclusion be?

GROUP BNEW SAUCE

AMOUNT OF GASTHE NEW SAUCE WORKS

Slimotosis Sponge Bob notices that his pal Gary is suffering

from slimotosis, which occurs when the shell develops a nasty slime and gives off a horrible odor. His friend Patrick tells him that rubbing seaweed on the shell is the perfect cure, while Sandy says that drinking Dr. Kelp will be a better cure. Sponge Bob decides to test this cure by rubbing Gary with seaweed for 1 week and having him drink Dr. Kelp. After a week of treatment, the slime is gone and Gary’s shell smells better. 1. What was the initial observation? 2. What is the independent variable? 3. What is the dependent variable? 4. What should be Sponge Bob’s conclusion be?

SLIMOTOSISCURES FOR SLIMOTOSIS THE SLIME AND

ODORCURE WORKS

Title Box 6: Exit Ticket

Answer the following question

What is the scientific method?

*3 complete sentences *Number each period*Come up and show me to get a stamp