Scientific Method Scientific Method Project Project

Language of Science… How we study science today was

developed long ago by our scientist fore-fathers and mothers

Today you start to learn the language of Science!!!

Fathers of the Scientific Method

Aristotle Roger Bacon Galileo Francis

Bacon

Other notable contributors: John Dewey Isaac Newton Robert Boyle Gregor Mendel Benjamin Franklin Charles Darwin Albert Einstein

Scientific Method – Bubble Map

Scientific Method

Scientific Method

Steps to Scientific Steps to Scientific MethodMethod

1)2)3)4)5)6)7)8)

9)

Identify a Problem/Challenge/Objective State Questions/Observations about the

problemForm a Hypothesis about the problem (if…

then…)Design an Experiment to test the hypothesisCollect DataAnalyze DataForm a ConclusionRetestShare the Results

Objective Objective Students will learn how to conduct the scientific method

while studying creation. Students will discover the different plants around their

MCS campus by making observations and mapping their

locations.

Ask Questions like a Ask Questions like a Scholar!Scholar!

Ask questions with a specific goal or outcome in mind: Why…? Where…? What…? How…? When…? Who…?

Know/Need to Know Chart

Create Table in Journal

Individual – 4 minutes

Group – 2 minutes

What you KNOW

What you NEED to KNOW

ObservationsObservations Observations are Observations are

information/details that are information/details that are gathered through your gathered through your sensessenses

They are They are recordedrecorded for future for future studystudy

A scientist notices and A scientist notices and describes the details in their describes the details in their natural worldnatural world

Review Observations Were your observations complete

thoughts or sentences?

Did you give a location for the object?

Does your description include texture? Color? Shape? Length? Width? Height?

Intentional Observations

We will focus on Primarily on the plants as we explore outside

Plant Observations

Where: MCS Courtyard

Date: 9/6/13

Time: 11:15 AM

Plant 1 1. The leaves are long and slender.

2. The leaves are pale/light green.

3. The leaf texture is smooth and waxy.

HypothesisHypothesis A hypothesis is a:A hypothesis is a:

suggested solution suggested solution to the to the problem.problem.

Must be able Must be able to test ittest it

Sometimes written as Sometimes written as If…Then…If…Then… statementsstatements

PredictsPredicts an outcome an outcome

HypothesisHypothesis

An An example of a example of a hypothesishypothesis might be: might be:

““IfIf plants grow near plants grow near the building, the building, thenthen they would grow they would grow larger than out in larger than out in

the open.” the open.”

ExperimentExperiment An experiment is An experiment is a procedure a procedure

toto testtest the hypothesis. the hypothesis.

An experimenter changes one factor and observes or measures what happens.

Experiment – Experiment – Variables Variables

In the experiment there will In the experiment there will be be variablesvariables

A A VariableVariable is a factor in the is a factor in the experiment that is experiment that is being being testedtested Example: height of the plant in

proximity to the building

Experiment GroupsExperiment Groups

Two groups are required: The Control Group

The Experimental Group

The Control VariableThe Control Variable The experimenter makes a The experimenter makes a

special effort to keep other special effort to keep other variables variables constant constant so that so that they they will notwill not effect the effect the outcome.outcome.

Those factors are called Those factors are called control variables.control variables.

The Control VariableThe Control Variable

Purpose of a Control is to Purpose of a Control is to NOTNOT be tested be tested

Controls are used for Controls are used for COMPARISONCOMPARISON

Other Variables The factor that is The factor that is changed by changed by

the scientistthe scientist is known as the is known as the independent variableindependent variable. .

The factor that is The factor that is measured or measured or observedobserved is called the is called the dependent variable. dependent variable.

ExampleExample For example, suppose you want to figure

out the fastest route to walk home from school.

You will try several different routes and time how long it takes you to get home by each one.

Since you are only interested in finding a route that is fastest for you, you will do the walking yourself.

What are the Variables What are the Variables in Your Experiment?in Your Experiment?

Varying the route is the Varying the route is the ____________ ____________ variablevariable..

The time it takes is the The time it takes is the _________ _________ variablevariable. .

Keeping the same walker Keeping the same walker throughout makes the walker throughout makes the walker a ________ a ________ variable. variable.

independentindependent

dependentdependent

controlcontrol

DataData DataData are pieces of information

that come from the experiment May be quantitative

Ex: numbers – amount, frequency, measurements

or qualitative descriptive: color, taste, smell,

texture, shape, and sound

Data CollectionData Collection Data must be organized into:

Tables

Charts

Graphs

Data Analysis Data analysis involves:

ComparingComparing the data collected from the experimental group and control group

ReflectionReflection did the data support your original hypothesis? Did it NOT support your hypothesis?

Sometimes analysis requires additional observations!

ConclusionConclusion A conclusion is a

statement/answer to the hypothesis based on the data obtained from the experiment

What did you learn?What did you learn?

RetestRetest

In order to verify the results, experiments must be retested.

Steps to Solving a Steps to Solving a ProblemProblem

1)_______ a Problem2) State ___________ about the problem3) Form a ________ about the problem (if…

then…)4) Design an ________ to ____ the _________5) Collect______6) __________ data7) Form a ___________8) _______9) ________ your Results