Scientific Method

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Unit: Science in Action 9/10/12

Objective: SWBAT describe and utilize the scientific method to conduct an investigation.

IA: What is the name of each tool below? What do we use each tool to measure?What is the name of the units they measure in?

Steps in the Scientific Steps in the Scientific MethodMethod

QuestionQuestion ObservationObservation HypothesisHypothesis ExperimentExperiment Data CollectionData Collection ConclusionConclusion RetestRetest

Identifying the Problem Something is happening and I am

curious to discover why or how it is occurring.

Problems are specific and testable What does it mean to be testable?

ObservationsObservations

Gathered through Gathered through your your sensessenses

A scientist notices A scientist notices something in their something in their

natural worldnatural world What is an What is an

observation you observation you can make about can make about the class today?the class today?

HypothesisHypothesis

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

Must be Must be testabletestable Sometimes Sometimes

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

PredictsPredicts an an outcomeoutcome

HypothesisHypothesis

An An example of a example of a hypothesishypothesis might might be that the be that the salamanders salamanders have curved tails have curved tails due to a due to a pollutant in the pollutant in the moist soil where moist soil where they live. they live.

ExperimentExperiment

A A procedure procedure to to testtest the the hypothesishypothesis

..


VariableVariable – – factor in the factor in the experiment experiment that is being that is being

testedtested


A good or A good or “valid” “valid”

experiment experiment will only will only

have have ONE ONE variable!variable!

Scientific Experiments Scientific Experiments Follow RulesFollow Rules

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

DataData Results of

the experiment

May be quantitative (numbers) or qualitative (description)

If I was conducting an experiment about how many miles my car gets for each gallon of gas, what type of data would I be collecting? Why?

Pair with your neighbor and come up with an answer

DataData Must be

organized Can be

organized into charts, tables, or graphs

ConclusionConclusion

The the data obtained from the experiment to support or disprove a hypothesis

Solving a ProblemSolving a Problem1)Identify a Problem2) State Observations

about the problem3) Form a Hypothesis

about the problem (if…then…)

4) Design an Experiment to test the hypothesis

5) Collect Data6) Form a Conclusion7) Retest

Why should we retest an experiment? With the person sitting next to you

come up with 3 reasons why.

Find your lab group!



For tomorrows investigation……

Read the problem and the procedure with your group.

Determine what materials you think you will need.

Come up with an hypothesis and fill it in the graphic organizer.

Summary Share out hypothesis Anticipate any problems

Unit 1: Science in Action 9/11/12

Objective: SWBAT conduct an investigation that displays the scientific method.

Initial Activity: Read over the lab specifically the question and procedure. Write your hypothesis using the “If...,then..” format.

- If you are done, read over the back page which describes “How to create a graph?”

Lab Protocol Elect one person from your group to be

the materials manager. Have them come and collect the materials.

We will all start the data collection at the same time. Complete the lab protocol and be sure to record your results accurately.

When you are done, return your materials to the front of the room.

Lab Partners-2nd Period Eyad & Paul Nikita & Marcel Adam & Angel Destiny & Brianna Christoper & Jonathan Sabrina & Marisa Xavier & Andrew Solounge & Anthony Brittany & Cheyenne Sasha & Tatiana Jose & Regina Destiny & Nicoletta Assibi & Caleb

Lab Partners-3rd Period Kevin & Awais Ricki & Kelventh Merica & Arianne Giselle, Mel and Anthony Ashley & Christine Anastasios & Brahian Davidson and Taraya Alex & Tania Dylan, Dajuan and Erabakan Josephine & Tiffany Kyle, Dejohn and David




Closing Complete the post-lab evaluation

questions and graph Compare your data with another group.

How does your results compare? Process Journal

What happened during the experiment? Did what I expect to happen actually occur? What was enjoyable about the lab? What was challenging?

Documents

Scientific Method