The Goal of this

Presentation is to

Provide a Tool to

Explain the

Scientific Method

Scientific Method

1. Statement of Purpose or Question:

[What do you want to know?]

2. Hypothesis:

[What do you predict, in the form of an If…, then

statement]

Scientific Method (cont.)

3. Variables:

A. Independent Variable[Factor being manipulated]

B. Dependent Variable[Factor Which Responds - the one you measure]

C. Constants or Controls

[Factors that are held constant]

Scientific Method (cont.)

4. Standards of Comparison:

[Experimental Control]

5. Materials and Procedure:A. Materials:

[List everything used to complete the experiment]

B. Procedures[Step by step Directions - number each step like a

recipe]

Scientific Method (cont.)

6. Qualitative Observations & Results:[List things that could have been done incorrectly, and write them down during the experimentation.]

7.Quantitative Results:

A. Raw Data

[Record in a table]

B. Results

[Display data using graphs. Averages or

Line of Best-Fit]

Scientific Method (cont.)

8. Analysis & Interpretation of Results:[Describe in words the results]

10. Conclusion:[Include why your results did, or did not, support the

Hypothesis]

9. Possible Experimental Errors:[Give an explanation for each factor noted in step 6 that could

have had an affect on the experiment]

11. Recommendations for further

experimentation based on your data &

practical applications:

Teaching Examples

Of the Scientific Method

The Paper Towel with

Great Holding Power

1. Statement of Purpose or Question:

Which paper towel will hold the most water?

2. Hypothesis:When Brawny, Scott and a store brand are tested for

absorbency, then … will be proven to hold the most

water.

3. Variables:

Brand of paper towel

B. Dependent Variable

Brand of paper towel

C. Constants or Controls

Amounts of water added to paper towel

Size of the paper towel

Process of determining amount of water left

Time water is on paper towel

Test all three brands around the same time and on the same

day

A. Independent Variable

4. Standards of Comparison:

5. Materials and Procedure :

Color and size of each brand of paper towel

A. Materials

roll of Brawny, Scott & store brand water

Graduated cylinder scissors

calculator pan

extra paper towels ruler

B. Procedures:1. Get all materials.

2. Review my directions for experiment.

3. Cut paper towels into 4 cm x 4 cm squares.

4. Lay one square of Bounty paper towel in the e pan.

5. Measure out 10 ml of water and add to paper towel in

pan.

6. Let it set for one for one minute.

7. Pick up paper towel with forceps and let the extra

water drip out of paper towel until the drops are at

least five seconds apart.

8. Pour water in cake pan back into the graduated

cylinder and calculate the amount of water the square

of paper to held.

9. Repeat steps 5-9 for each paper towel for total of fifty

times.

6. Qualitative Observations:

7. Quantitative Results:

A. Raw Data

Some water was lost when it was returned to the

graduated cylinder.

Water temperature was hard regulate.

During some test the air conditioner was on.

Table Brawny Scott Store

1

2

3

4

5

Class Avg.

Paper Towel Brand

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Brawny Scott Store

Avera

ge A

mo

un

t o

f

Wate

r H

eld

in

mL

Paper Towel with

Greatest Holding Power

B. Results

8. Analysis & Interpretation of Results:

[In words describe what was discovered.]

9. Possible Experimental Errors:

[Review step 6 and write statements of

what you observed.]

10.Conclusion:

[State whether your hypothesis was correct and Include

why your results did, or did not, support the Hypothesis]

11. Recommendations for further experimentation

based on your data & practical applications:

Challenge

In groups of 3-4 students design an experiment with one of the following questions.

Which size funnel will sand pour through the fastest?

Will the temperature of ice water change if you add salt, or sugar?

Will the angle of a ramp have an affect on how far a marble will roll?