SCIENTIFIC METHOD

QUICK QUIZ

What is a hypothesis?

1.

What is the first thing that must happen in the scientific method problem solving process?

2.

What is the one big thing that all experiments must do?

3.

What are the results of your experiment are collectively called?

4.

What is the purpose of the conclusion and why is it important?

5.

Two scientific tools used to analyze the results of your experiment are?

6.

What three things must be present in a well written hypothesis?

7.

FINISHED

Set up the dancing raisinsFor 1 minute observe your setupNow for 1 minute REALLY make observations

Share them with your group

OBSERVATIONS & THE DANCING RAISINS

When a scientist wants to learn about something, they usually start with several questions

Your job is to write down at least 3 different questions about the Dancing Raisins experiment you observed in class that might be interesting to test.

PROBLEM STATEMENT & THE D.R.[QUESTIO

N]

What makes a good problem statement? It cannot be answered yes or noDoes not contain the word “best” or a form of the word “best”.

The answer to the Problem Statement has measurable results which can be graphed.

If the answer to the question is known without experimentation, because it is quite obvious, then a new Problem Statement (question) is needed.

PROBLEM STATEMENT & THE D.R.[QUESTIO

N]

Some examples of good PS Does the height of an incline affect the speed of an

object? Does the diameter of a disc affect its speed down an

incline? Does the height of a bean plant determine how many

beans the plant will produce? How does the number of breaths affect the distance

traveled by a rocket balloon?

PROBLEM STATEMENT & THE D.R.[QUESTIO

N]

A scientific explanation for a set of observations that can be tested.

A.K.A – a testable explanation for observations

HYPOTHESIS

Choose one of your problem statements.Write a hypothesis that tests your question.

Use “If, then, Because…” format.If then because

First blank = Independent Variable (IV)Second blank = Dependent Variable (DV)

HYPOTHESIS AND THE D.R.

Problem Statement:How many bubbles does it take to float a raisin?

Now you create a proper hypothesis.Samples:

If we add bubbles one at a time, then the raisin will float when the count reaches 20 because the bubbles will balance the density and buoyancy of the raisin.

If there is less than 20 bubbles on the raisin, then the it will not float because the bubbles increase the buoyancy of the raisin.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

By yourself, I want you to write step-by-step directions of how to make a peanut butter sandwich.

Be sure to be as detailed as you can!Write them so that another student or

adult could pick up your directions and create the sandwich just like you would want.

WRITING DIRECTIONS

Egg Float ActivityObserve the egg setup.

What might be a possible problem statement?

What might be a potential hypothesis?If we add 6 teaspoons of salt to the water, then the egg will float because the water will be more dense than the egg.

MAKING GRAPHS & CHARTS[COLLECT & ANALYZING DATA]

What data do we want to collect? [what are we measuring?]

How are we going to organize it?Now that we have it, what will we do

with it?

MAKING GRAPHS & CHARTS[COLLECT & ANALYZING DATA]

6 sentence minimum conclusion structure#1 Rewrite your hypothesis [Use IF, THEN, BECAUSE

format]#2 State whether the data did you got supported your

hypothesis OR disproved your hypothesis.#3 Explain your data and what happened in your

experiment. #4 What do you now conclude about the way things

work? [The data I got shows …{explain concept}…..]#5 What are you now wondering? [What questions do

you have now that you are done]#6. If you conducted this experiment again, what would

you change? [looking at your design and results where were the sources of potential errors, what could have been done better, what could be expanded upon, etc.]

WRITING A CONCLUSION

I. Problem Statement (Question)

II.HypothesisIII.ExperimentIV.Collect and Analyze DataV.Write a ConclusionVI.Repeat & Publish Results

THE WHOLE STORY

WHAT IS ENGINEERING?

THE ENGINEERING DESIGN CYCLE