Scientific Method or Explanation

In order to ask a question about the world around you, scientists need to get information. An organized plan for gathering and organizing this information is called a scientific method. In this class we will use this method but will use different terms.

CERR – CLAIM, EVIDENCE, REASONING, REBUTTALCan everyone really relax

Scientists, teachers, students and anyone in the world can come up with the first step

which is a question or problem

Where does hail come from?

Hail Stone

Size Speed

Marble ½ in 35mph

Penny ¾ in 40mph

Quarter 1 in 45mph

Golf Ball 1 ¾ in 64mph

Softball 4 ½ in 103mph

STEP 1 – Come up with a problem or question

Write this down in your composition notebook

The next step is to state your claim which answers

the question or problemYou may remember this as your hypothesis (you should

have learned this in middle school, a hypothesis is an educated guess based on your past experiences)

Claim- This needs to be in statement form and a complete sentence.Hail which is formed in clouds is a solid form of precipitation and is a ball of ice that falls from the sky.

STEP 2 – Make a claim about the question or

problem

Write this down in your composition book

Remember a claim is a statement or conclusion that answers your problem or question, its your hypothesis

The next step is your evidence. This is all of your data you collect

through your experimentYou may remember this as your experiment where you

record all of your data, graph, interpret, and make connections for the claim

Evidence: Scientific data that supports your claim.Last weekend large pieces of ice came down from the sky, I went out and examined the ice. It was a bunch of little pieces that formed a ball.

Step 3 – Provide Evidence for the claim

Write this down in your composition book

Your data needs to be appropriate and sufficient to support the claim. This could be qualitative or

quantitative observations, measurements and/or results

The next step is Reasoning which will connect the evidence to the claim

You may remember this as your analysis and conclusion

Reasoning: This shows why your data connects the evidence to the claim. Be sure to use common sense and appropriate scientific principals.The large pieces of ice form higher up in the cloud because thunderstorms push them up there. The higher up the colder the air, the rain freezes. Then as gravity takes over and it comes down it collects more rain drops and freezes to the ball making it much larger

Step 4 – Reasoning / Explanation

Write this down in your composition book

Tells us why the data counts as evidence by using scientific principals

The last step is the rebuttal which recognizes and

describes other explanations

You may have used this in your conclusion or needed to use it when your hypothesis (CLAIM) was incorrect or

needed to be tested again

Rebuttal: Provides counter evidence and reasoning for why the alternative explanation is not appropriate.Hail is an actual snow ball that comes down from the sky, how does this snow get packed up in the sky and where does it come from? Snow is not ice.

Step 5 - Rebuttal

Write this down in your composition book

Provides evidence for why this other explanation is not appropriate

Steps of the Scientific MethodCERR

Make an observation and state a problem or question that is testable

Develop a claim to answer your question or problem Design an experiment, collect data and observations to

provide evidence for the claim Organize your results through reasoning and tell why the

data counts as evidence by using scientific principals Draw up a conclusion, analyze your data and state if your

claim is correct or not. You may need to provide counter evidence and reasoning through a rebuttal for why the alternative explanation is not appropriate

A Real Life Situationusing the scientific method

The scientific method can also be used to solve many problems that you may have or to find out a question that you might want to inquire about.

Write this down in your Journal and keep track

Examples:

To find a date for the dance on Friday night

To quit eating chocolateTo quit smoking

To get an A in Science

To get a girlfriend or boyfriend by the end of the semester

Step 1P_____________Q_____________

Explain each step

Step 2C_____________

Step 3E_____________

Step 4R_____________

Step 5R_____________

Scientific Explanation Example

How can I find a date for the homecoming dance next month?

LETS DO THIS ONE TOGETHER!!!!!!!!

Problem or Question- Write in your question

Claim- answers your problem

Evidence- data or observations

Reasoning / Explanation- connects evidence to claim

Rebuttal- describes alternative explanations

Retest if needed and come up with new claim