by mrs. kerry mohan science educator paint valley local school district

ByMrs. Kerry MohanScience Educator

Paint Valley Local School District

Project OverviewProject Overview

The The lessonlesson goalsgoals are to learn the seven are to learn the seven steps of the scientific method and be steps of the scientific method and be able to apply the steps in hypothetical able to apply the steps in hypothetical experiments.experiments.

Target AudienceTarget Audience is any science student is any science student in grades 6 – 12.in grades 6 – 12.

The interactive lesson format was The interactive lesson format was chosen due to its innate opportunity to chosen due to its innate opportunity to offer additional practice of a concept offer additional practice of a concept that is the foundation of science.that is the foundation of science.

Introduction:Introduction: The Scientific Method is a systematic way to determine the answer to a problem. It involves seven steps and is a method used by all scientists who perform experiments.

Instructions:Instructions: Read the material. Click on the Read the material. Click on the blueblue icon to advance to the next slide. Answer icon to advance to the next slide. Answer the questions to advance through the lesson.the questions to advance through the lesson.

Time Allotted:Time Allotted: You will have 50 minutes to You will have 50 minutes to complete this lesson.complete this lesson.

Lesson Goal:Lesson Goal: You will learn the seven steps of You will learn the seven steps of the scientific method and be able to recognize the scientific method and be able to recognize the parts in hypothetical experiments so that the parts in hypothetical experiments so that they may be applied in your own scientific they may be applied in your own scientific explorations.explorations.

Test Your Knowledge Test Your Knowledge on the Scientific on the Scientific MethodMethodClick on the light bulb to answer Click on the light bulb to answer the question.the question.

The scientific method is a process The scientific method is a process that is used to devise scientific that is used to devise scientific theories and laws.theories and laws.

TRUETRUE FALSEFALSE

Sorry, that’s incorrect.Sorry, that’s incorrect.

Scientists can use the scientific method to make Scientists can use the scientific method to make scientific theories and laws. scientific theories and laws.

Click on the lightning bolt to find out more about the Click on the lightning bolt to find out more about the steps of the scientific method.steps of the scientific method.

The scientific method is a systematic way The scientific method is a systematic way to solve a problem or answer a question. to solve a problem or answer a question. It’s a method that can be applied in your It’s a method that can be applied in your daily lives, not just in science class. So daily lives, not just in science class. So try it!!try it!!Ready to learn more?Ready to learn more?

Click on the globe!Click on the globe!

Why the Scientific Method Why the Scientific Method is Useful To Youis Useful To You

General Steps of the General Steps of the Scientific MethodScientific Method1.1. State the State the problemproblem. . (Purpose)(Purpose)

2.2. Gather information on the problem. Gather information on the problem. (Research)(Research)

3.3. Form a Form a hypothesishypothesis..

4.4. Design & perform the Design & perform the experiment(s)experiment(s) to to test the hypothesis.test the hypothesis.

5.5. Record and analyze Record and analyze datadata..

6.6. State a State a conclusionconclusion..

7.7. RepeatRepeat and/or and/or redesignredesign..

State the ProblemState the Problem

This is the This is the purposepurpose of the of the investigation or question to be investigation or question to be answered in the investigation.answered in the investigation.

State what State what problemproblem you want to you want to solve or what solve or what questionquestion you want you want to answer.to answer.

Gather Information Gather Information (Research)(Research)

Use various resources to inform Use various resources to inform yourself about the parts of your yourself about the parts of your investigation. This involves investigation. This involves researchresearch!!!!

You must educate yourself about You must educate yourself about your investigation so that you can your investigation so that you can make an make an “educated guess”“educated guess” to test. to test.

Develop a HypothesisDevelop a Hypothesis

A A hypothesishypothesis is an educated guess is an educated guess proposes an answer to your question proposes an answer to your question or a solution to your problem. or a solution to your problem.

The The hypothesis hypothesis is what you are is what you are testing in an investigation.testing in an investigation.

Let’s choose an example and work Let’s choose an example and work through the first three steps of the through the first three steps of the scientific method together.scientific method together.

What’s the problem? What’s the problem? Click on the Click on the car to check your answer.car to check your answer.

How can we gather information How can we gather information about the problem? about the problem? Click on the car Click on the car once again to check your answer.once again to check your answer.

What are some possible hypotheses What are some possible hypotheses we could investigate? we could investigate? Click on the Click on the car one more time to see some car one more time to see some possibilities.possibilities.

Perform the Perform the experimentexperiment Design and perform an Design and perform an

experiment experiment that will test your that will test your hypothesis for accuracy.hypothesis for accuracy.

To do this you must be able to To do this you must be able to identify your variables.identify your variables.

VariablesVariables

The “thing” that is The “thing” that is being changed by being changed by the experimenter.the experimenter.

There can only be There can only be ONE ONE manipulatedmanipulated variablevariable..

Also called the Also called the independent independent variable.variable.

The “thing” that The “thing” that reactsreacts (responds) to (responds) to what the what the experimenter experimenter changed changed ((manipulatedmanipulated).).

This is the “thing” This is the “thing” you are measuring.you are measuring.

Also called the Also called the dependent variable.dependent variable.

Manipulated Variable

Responding Variable

One more type of One more type of variable...variable...

These are the “things” that stay These are the “things” that stay the same throughout the the same throughout the investigation or experiment.investigation or experiment.

In the setup of your experiment, In the setup of your experiment, you can only have one you can only have one manipulated manipulated variablevariable, this means all other , this means all other variables must be variables must be controlledcontrolled (kept (kept the same).the same).

Controlled Variables

Possible hypothesis: If gas is put into Possible hypothesis: If gas is put into the car, the car will start.the car, the car will start.

What’s the manipulated variable?What’s the manipulated variable?

What are some controlled variables?What are some controlled variables?

What is the responding variable?What is the responding variable?

Record and Analyze Record and Analyze DataData DataData includes the measurements includes the measurements

and/or observations you make and/or observations you make about the responding variable.about the responding variable.

But first, you must determine But first, you must determine what type of what type of datadata (called (called observations) you will collect.observations) you will collect.

Types of ObservationsTypes of Observations

Observation that Observation that measures such measures such things as size, things as size, weight, distance, weight, distance, volume, etc. volume, etc.

This observation This observation MUST use a MUST use a number.number.

Observation that Observation that describes using describes using details such as size, details such as size, color, shape. color, shape.

This observation This observation uses NO numbers. uses NO numbers.

Quantitative Qualitative

ExamplesExamples

Jane is five feet tall.Jane is five feet tall. There are 65 cars There are 65 cars

on the train.on the train. I wear a size 8 I wear a size 8

shoe.shoe. The gas tank holds The gas tank holds

18 gallons.18 gallons.

Jane is taller than Jane is taller than Jack.Jack.

The walls are gray.The walls are gray. Oranges are round.Oranges are round. Jack is heavier Jack is heavier

than Jane.than Jane.

Quantitative

Qualitative

Quantitative or Quantitative or Qualitative?Qualitative?

Which type of observation Which type of observation is most useful in a science is most useful in a science investigation?investigation?

QUANTITATIVE!!QUANTITATIVE!! Why? Why?

Your Your conclusionsconclusions should consist of should consist of your best explanations for given your best explanations for given observations. observations.

Your Your conclusionconclusion should answer should answer the questions: What happened? the questions: What happened? and Why did it happen? and Why did it happen?

Repeat and/or Repeat and/or RedesignRedesign In order to confirm results, you In order to confirm results, you

should always repeat your should always repeat your experiments numerous times. If experiments numerous times. If there are ways to improve your there are ways to improve your experiment, you should experiment, you should redesignredesign it it until it properly tests your until it properly tests your hypothesis.hypothesis.

Remember! A single experiment Remember! A single experiment never “proves” a hypothesis to be never “proves” a hypothesis to be true, it only supports or does not true, it only supports or does not support a hypothesis.support a hypothesis.

• How would we perform the experiment to How would we perform the experiment to test our hypothesis ? (If gas is put into the test our hypothesis ? (If gas is put into the car, it will start.)car, it will start.)

• How would we collect and analyze our data?How would we collect and analyze our data?• If the car starts, what can we conclude?If the car starts, what can we conclude?• If the car doesn’t start, what can we If the car doesn’t start, what can we

conclude? How could we redesign our conclude? How could we redesign our experiment to find out why the car won’t experiment to find out why the car won’t start?start?

Let’s apply what Let’s apply what we’ve learned….we’ve learned….

Click on the lightning bolt to apply what you have learned about the scientific method.

Apply what you’ve Apply what you’ve learned…..learned….. To test whether aspirin can keep flowers To test whether aspirin can keep flowers

fresher for a longer period of time, take fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B do not one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B do not put aspirin. Identify the following with put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment.regard to this particular experiment.

What is the manipulated variable?

Amount of Water Aspirin

Carnations Time the flowers stay fresh

Apply what you’ve Apply what you’ve learned…..learned…..

To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a To test whether aspirin can keep flowers fresher for a longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled longer period of time, take two large beakers (labeled A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red A and B) with equal amounts of water. Place one red carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of carnation in each beaker. In beaker A put one tablet of aspirin. In Beaker B, do not put aspirin. Identify the aspirin. In Beaker B, do not put aspirin. Identify the following with regard to this particular experiment.following with regard to this particular experiment.

What is the responding variable?Amount of Water Size of beakers

Size of carnations Time the flowers stay fresh


””If the amount of sunlight available If the amount of sunlight available increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases, the rate of photosynthesis in a plant will also increase.”in a plant will also increase.”

This statement is an example of a(n) Conclusion

Analysis

Purpose

Hypothesis


The effect of one minute of walking The effect of one minute of walking and one minute of running on the and one minute of running on the pulse and respiration rates of a pulse and respiration rates of a human.human.

In this experiment, what is/are the responding variable(s)?

Speed Time

Pulse & Respiration Rates Walking & Running


If you were doing research on the If you were doing research on the deadly E-bola virus, which deadly E-bola virus, which resource in the library would give resource in the library would give the most current information?the most current information?

Internet Book

World Book Encyclopedia Reader’s Guide


The effect of one minute of walking The effect of one minute of walking and one minute of running on the and one minute of running on the pulse and respiration rates of a pulse and respiration rates of a human.human.

In this experiment, what is/are the controlled variable(s)?

Speed Time

Pulse & Respiration Rates Walking & Running


Scientists must analyze the Scientists must analyze the results of an experiment results of an experiment before they:before they:Form a hypothesis Perform experiment

Identify a control Draw a conclusion


A student plants one marigold seed into A student plants one marigold seed into each of three pots. One pot she uses soil each of three pots. One pot she uses soil from a flower bed outside her house, one from a flower bed outside her house, one pot she plants with soil from a garden pot she plants with soil from a garden store, and one she plants into rocks. She store, and one she plants into rocks. She uses a pitcher and waters each seed. She uses a pitcher and waters each seed. She puts a pot on the window sill of her puts a pot on the window sill of her kitchen, one under the grow lights on her kitchen, one under the grow lights on her porch and one in a bag. She waits three porch and one in a bag. She waits three days and makes her first observation.days and makes her first observation.This is not a well prepared experiment. Think of at least 3 reasons why this is not a good experiment. Then click on the light bulb.

THINKING…..THINKING…..Click on the light bulb to see if Click on the light bulb to see if your thoughts are on target.your thoughts are on target.

She didn’t control her She didn’t control her variables.variables.

She used three different types of soil.She used three different types of soil. She used three different temperatures.She used three different temperatures. She used three different types of lightShe used three different types of light

sources.sources. You will not be able to decide what it isYou will not be able to decide what it is

that is causing one seed to grow betterthat is causing one seed to grow better

than another.than another.

An Example of A Science Fair Project Using the Scientific

MethodProblemResearchHypothesisExperimentDataConclusionRepeat and redesign

Testing Your KnowledgeTesting Your KnowledgeTesting Your KnowledgeTesting Your Knowledge

Click on the icon below to take a Click on the icon below to take a quiz onquiz on

the scientific method. Once you the scientific method. Once you havehave

finished, print your quiz with thefinished, print your quiz with the

answers and give it to your answers and give it to your teacher.teacher.

Intel ISFIntel ISFhttp://http://www.sciserv.org/isef/primer/scientific_method.aspwww.sciserv.org/isef/primer/scientific_method.asp

Plymouth SchoolsPlymouth Schools

http://plymouthschools.com/Science/scifair/scimeth7.hthttp://plymouthschools.com/Science/scifair/scimeth7.htmm

Complete Guide to Science FairComplete Guide to Science Fairwww.scifair.orgwww.scifair.org

Science Fair CentralScience Fair Centralhttp://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstuhttp://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/scifairstudio/handbook/scientificmethod.htmldio/handbook/scientificmethod.html

Science Fair Project IdeasScience Fair Project Ideashttp://http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/scientific_method.htmsciencefairproject.virtualave.net/scientific_method.htm

Resources for Writing a Research Paper Using MLAResources for Writing a Research Paper Using MLAhttp://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/http://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/http://http://ourworld.cs.com/tonkteacher/owlmla.htm?fourworld.cs.com/tonkteacher/owlmla.htm?f==fsfs

Research

Experiment

Problem

Success!Science

Hypothesis

DataConclusion =

Fair

by mrs. kerry mohan science educator paint valley local school district

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