Scientific Method and Scientific Method and Inquiry ProcessInquiry Process

Grade Six ScienceGrade Six Science

Riggs ElementaryRiggs Elementary

ObserveObserve

Look around you. Look around you. What do you see?What do you see? What do you wonder?What do you wonder? Do you have questions?Do you have questions?

QuestionQuestion

You wonder about something you You wonder about something you have observed so you decide to talk have observed so you decide to talk to a peer about it.to a peer about it.

You decide on a good question to You decide on a good question to ask:ask: ““What would the effect of different What would the effect of different

brands of disinfectants have on killing brands of disinfectants have on killing bacteria?” bacteria?”

HypothesisHypothesis

A scientific explanation that you can A scientific explanation that you can test.test. A hypothesis for the question in the A hypothesis for the question in the

previous slide might be:previous slide might be: ““If equal amounts of various brands of If equal amounts of various brands of

disinfectants are used then they will be disinfectants are used then they will be equally effective in killing bacteria.”equally effective in killing bacteria.”

PredictionPrediction

A prediction states the expected A prediction states the expected outcome of a planned test or outcome of a planned test or experiment. experiment. ““The disinfectants will have the same The disinfectants will have the same

effect on the bacteria.”effect on the bacteria.”

MaterialsMaterials

Make a list of all materials needed to Make a list of all materials needed to complete the experiment.complete the experiment. Do not forget to write pencil and lab Do not forget to write pencil and lab

book!book!

ProceduresProcedures

The procedures are all of the steps The procedures are all of the steps needed to take to do the needed to take to do the experiment/investigation.experiment/investigation. Number them, use complete sentences Number them, use complete sentences

with capital letters and periods.with capital letters and periods. Remember: Your experiment should be able Remember: Your experiment should be able

to be repeated by anyone.to be repeated by anyone.

DataData

Perform the experiment and record Perform the experiment and record the data onto a chart. Be sure to the data onto a chart. Be sure to keep this chart neat so that you can keep this chart neat so that you can read it.read it.

(Rulers come in very handy for this (Rulers come in very handy for this step.)step.)

Data AnalysisData Analysis

Interpret the data.Interpret the data. For the experiment about disinfectants, For the experiment about disinfectants,

you might write:you might write: Disinfectant C worked the best with a steady Disinfectant C worked the best with a steady

increase in the size of “killed bacteria.”increase in the size of “killed bacteria.” Disinfectant A did not kill bacteria as well as Disinfectant A did not kill bacteria as well as

the others, but did work somewhat.the others, but did work somewhat. Disinfectant B killed bacteria better than A, Disinfectant B killed bacteria better than A,

but not as well as C.but not as well as C.

ConclusionConclusion

Confirm or reject your hypothesis.Confirm or reject your hypothesis. In the case of the disinfectant In the case of the disinfectant

experiment, a possible hypothesis might experiment, a possible hypothesis might be:be:

““Hypothesis was rejected because the Hypothesis was rejected because the different brands of disinfectant did not work different brands of disinfectant did not work equally well.equally well.

Future ResearchFuture Research

What could you do to improve or change What could you do to improve or change the experiment?the experiment? With the disinfectant experiment, maybe it With the disinfectant experiment, maybe it

would be interesting to find out if the would be interesting to find out if the disinfectants were affective in cleaning and disinfectants were affective in cleaning and compare the results to how they did in killing compare the results to how they did in killing bacteria.bacteria.

New Question: “What would the effect of New Question: “What would the effect of different brands of disinfectants have in different brands of disinfectants have in cleaning student tables?”cleaning student tables?”