The Scientific Method

Goal: You will be able to become familiar with the steps in the scientific method and apply them to future labs.

9-3-20149-3-2014

Short Video

• Scientific Method

Steps

1. Problem: The reason for your experiment

2. Hypothesis: An “educated guess” that you predict before performing the

experiment

3. Materials: Items needed to complete experiment

4. Procedure: Steps to complete lab

5. Data: Info. collected during experiment

6. Results: How you present the data (graph, chart, lab sheet)

7. Conclusion: Statement that summarizes what you have discovered or

learned

Good Problems to have in Science

Which detergent gets grass stains out best, Target brand or Bounty?

Which paper towel, Bounty or Target brand, absorbs more water?

Make a Hypothesis

• What is making an educated guess important when conducting an experiment?

• Which of the following is a hypothesis? Explain.a) The plant grows best in natural sunlight.b) The plant grows best in natural sunlight because it receives the nutrients it needs to thrive.c) The plant will grow best in natural sunlight because plants need sun to make their food.

Why is it important to follow all steps in a procedure?

Data VS. Results• Which would typically be more colorful, the data or the

results???

• Results (graph or chart that is visually appealing; organizes the data)

• Data can be tally marks; where to keep record of what is happening DURING the lab.

Conclusion

• Summary of entire lab

• Show off all that you’ve done!

• Should be a paragraph (at least); sometimes will be longer (depending on the lab)

• Complete sentences

• Draw conclusions (talk about what you’ve learned)