Warm-Up• What is an Observation?• What is a Conclusion?• List the steps of the scientific

method:• After you have written and

answered these questions work on your vocabulary.

Scientific MethodWhat looks wrong with this picture?

• The scientific method starts when you ask a question about something that you observe: How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?

• And, in order for the scientific method to answer the question it must be about something that you can measure, preferably with a number.

Ask Question or Think of Problem

Research•You have to research the problem look into why it exist, other attempts to fix it and why they didn’t work.

• Learn about the topic!

• Hypothesis Activity

Hypothesis• Your hypothesis should state what

you think will happen your prediction for the outcome of this experiment.

• You must state your hypothesis in a way that you can easily measure, and of course, your hypothesis should be constructed in a way to help you answer your original question.

Experiment•Test Your Hypothesis by Doing

an Experiment!• Your experiment tests whether your

hypothesis is true or false. It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. – You conduct a fair test by making sure that

you change only one factor at a time while keeping all other conditions the same.

• You should also repeat your experiments several times to make sure that the first results weren't just an accident.

AnalyzeAnalyze your Data from the Experiment!Once your experiment is complete, you collect your measurements and analyze them to see if your hypothesis is true or false. Did the experiment have the results you expected or did something different happen?Scientists often find that their hypothesis was false, and in such cases they will construct a new hypothesis starting the entire process of the scientific method over again.

• After you have carefully analyzed your data you can draw your conclusions based on the results of this experiment.

• It is key that you do not make any conclusive statements until you have completed the experiment and know the data.

Conclusion

Variables• Experiments have different variables• An independent variable is a factor that is

manipulated in an experiment.  – The experimenter controls whether or not subjects

are exposed to the independent variable.   • The dependent variable is measured to determine if

the manipulation of the independent variable had any effect. Constant- doesn’t change

- Controls are used to show that results of an experiment are actually a result of the condition being tested.

Example • To test a hypothesis that eating carrots improves vision, the experimenter would manipulate whether or not

subjects ate carrots. – Thus, eating carrots is the independent variable. 

• Each subject’s vision would be tested to see if carrot eating had any effect.  – Thus, vision is the dependent variable. 

• The subjects assigned to eat carrots are in the experimental group, whereas subjects not eating carrots are in the control group. 

Check this outhttp://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/labs/scientific_method/sci_method_main.html

Make up your own EXPERIMENT

• YOU DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE TO PERFORM THE EXPERIMENT! JUST DESIGN IT!

• Work in groups to think of an experiment that you could design. Make a poster that answer all the following info.

• You can use pictures & diagrams • Go through all 6 steps of the Scientific Method. • Explain the problem • Why you want to do this experiment. Have a Hypothesis.• How you would carry it out to test your Hypothesis.• How you would analyze the data. • What conclusions you would be able to draw at the end of this

experiment.