Scientific Method orScientific Method orInquiryInquiry

EarthScienceEarthScience

What is Scientific Inquiry?What is Scientific Inquiry?

The diverse ways in which The diverse ways in which scientists study the natural scientists study the natural

world and propose world and propose explanations based on the explanations based on the

evidence they gather.evidence they gather.

StepsSteps

1-Scientific Question1-Scientific Question 2-Hypothesis2-Hypothesis 3-Experiment3-Experiment 4-Procedure4-Procedure 5-Data Table5-Data Table 6-Analysis6-Analysis 7-Conclusion7-Conclusion

Scientific QuestionScientific Question

A question posed about a problem A question posed about a problem during an observation.during an observation.

The question must be answerable by The question must be answerable by making observations and gathering making observations and gathering data.data.

Good question: Why had my CD player Good question: Why had my CD player stopped working?stopped working?

Bad question: What kind of music Bad question: What kind of music should I listen to on my CD player?should I listen to on my CD player?

HypothesisHypothesis

A possible explanation for a set A possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a of observations or answer to a scientific question.scientific question.

Must be posed in an “If…then…Must be posed in an “If…then…because” format.because” format.

Must be testable or be able to Must be testable or be able to carry out investigations and carry out investigations and gather evidence to be supported gather evidence to be supported or disprovedor disproved

Experiment/ProcedureExperiment/Procedure

Create a procedure. Create a procedure. Document the steps for part of Document the steps for part of

the experiment.the experiment. Create a detailed supply list.Create a detailed supply list. Make sure that the outcome is Make sure that the outcome is

measurable.measurable.

Data TableData Table

An organized An organized table that puts table that puts all gathered all gathered information in information in one place.one place.

AnalysisAnalysis

All data “analyzed” or converted All data “analyzed” or converted into a graph or written into a graph or written explanationexplanation

The findings of the experimentThe findings of the experiment

ConclusionConclusion

A statement that shows that the A statement that shows that the hypothesis was proven or hypothesis was proven or disproved.disproved.

Recommendations on what Recommendations on what could be done differently or could be done differently or possible thoughts on future possible thoughts on future experiments could be experiments could be addressed.addressed.

Title: ______________________Title: ______________________ Scientific Question:Scientific Question: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________ ____________________ The hypothesis stated: The hypothesis stated:

If_If_____________________________________________________ThenThen______________________________________________________________________________BecauseBecause____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Procedure (Experiment)Procedure (Experiment) Materials:Materials:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Methods/Procedure:Methods/Procedure: 1. _______________________________________________________1. _______________________________________________________ 2. _______________________________________________________2. _______________________________________________________ 3. _______________________________________________________3. _______________________________________________________ 4. _______________________________________________________4. _______________________________________________________ 5. _______________________________________________________5. _______________________________________________________ 6. _______________________________________________________6. _______________________________________________________ 7. _______________________________________________________7. _______________________________________________________ 8. _______________________________________________________8. _______________________________________________________ AnalysisAnalysis: : Create data table below:Create data table below: (or write an analogy)(or write an analogy)

a) Data Table Title: _________________________a) Data Table Title: _________________________ b) Graph of Data b) Graph of Data Conclusion: Conclusion: The hypothesis stated that The hypothesis stated that

_____________________________________________________. It was proved or _____________________________________________________. It was proved or disproved? disproved?

SourcesSources

http://step.nn.k12.va.us/http://step.nn.k12.va.us/science/6th_science/ppt/science/6th_science/ppt/Scientific_Method.ppt#268,11,StScientific_Method.ppt#268,11,Steps of the Scientific Methodeps of the Scientific Method

Google imagesGoogle images Prentice Hall:Science Explorer Prentice Hall:Science Explorer

TextbookTextbook