Scientific ObservationXX

8/14/2019 Scientific ObservationXX

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Bell Ringer Bell Ringer

If all swans in Lake Mead are whiteIf all swans in Lake Mead are whiteAnd all swans in Lake Michigan areAnd all swans in Lake Michigan are

whitewhite

And all swans in Lake Havasu areAnd all swans in Lake Havasu arewhitewhite

And all swans in Lake Erie are whiteAnd all swans in Lake Erie are white

Are all swans white?Are all swans white?



What about me?



The ScientificThe Scientific

ProcessProcessHow to make a scientificHow to make a scientific

observationobservation



The scientific processThe scientific process

There are four steps in the scientific process.There are four steps in the scientific process.

1) Observe something1) Observe something

2) Create a hypothesis2) Create a hypothesisA hypothesis is a possible explanationA hypothesis is a possible explanation

3) Make predictions using The hypothesis3) Make predictions using The hypothesis

4) Test the prediction by experiments4) Test the prediction by experiments



How to make an observationHow to make an observation

Notice things in the world aroundNotice things in the world around

youyou

– What do you see,What do you see,

– What do you hearWhat do you hear

– What do you smellWhat do you smell

– What do you feelWhat do you feel



Make notes as you answer theseMake notes as you answer these

questionsquestions

Who are the subjects? What do they lookWho are the subjects? What do they look

like? What are they doing?like? What are they doing?Are the subjects interacting with eachAre the subjects interacting with each

other? How?other? How?

What is the environment like?What is the environment like? Is the environment effecting behavior?Is the environment effecting behavior?



ObservationObservation

Lets Practice…Lets Practice…Do you see any animals in this picture?Do you see any animals in this picture?

This is a moth, It’s camouflage causes it to look like a leaf



ObservationObservation

To make an observation you must lookTo make an observation you must look

closely and notice details.closely and notice details.

This looks like a leaf,

look closer…

Can you see the butterfly’s legs?



QuestioningQuestioning

Develop a question about what youDevelop a question about what you

see going on…see going on…

– Ask how, what, when, where, and whyAsk how, what, when, where, and why

– Be sure that the question can beBe sure that the question can be

answered with an experimentanswered with an experiment



Forming a hypothesisForming a hypothesis

After you have asked the questionAfter you have asked the question

give a possible answergive a possible answer

Try to explain what was observedTry to explain what was observed

This is called forming a hypothesisThis is called forming a hypothesis



Forming a hypothesisForming a hypothesis

Lets Practice…Lets Practice…

We see…yellow butterflies only on yellowWe see…yellow butterflies only on yellowflowersflowers

We form a hypothesis…. Butterflies go toWe form a hypothesis…. Butterflies go to

flowers the same color as themflowers the same color as them



Making PredictionsMaking Predictions

The prediction is what you think willThe prediction is what you think will

happen if the hypothesis is true.happen if the hypothesis is true.

Our hypothesis is that butterflies go toOur hypothesis is that butterflies go toflowers the same color as themflowers the same color as them

A prediction could be…A prediction could be…– Red butterflies will land on red flowersRed butterflies will land on red flowers

– Purple butterflies will land on purple flowersPurple butterflies will land on purple flowers



ExperimentingExperimenting

After the hypothesis is formed andAfter the hypothesis is formed and

the predictions are made they mustthe predictions are made they must

be tested.be tested.

An experiment is a way to test aAn experiment is a way to test a

hypothesis and see if what washypothesis and see if what was

predicted is correct.predicted is correct.



Lets test our hypothesisLets test our hypothesis

Hypothesis: butterflies will go toHypothesis: butterflies will go to

flowers the same color as themflowers the same color as them

LETS EXPERMENTLETS EXPERMENT

1) Get flowers in a variety of colors,1) Get flowers in a variety of colors,

and butterflies in a variety of colors.and butterflies in a variety of colors.

2) Put them together in a room2) Put them together in a room3) Keep track of what butterflies land3) Keep track of what butterflies land

on what flowers.on what flowers.



The resultsThe results



My flashlight doesn’twork

What’s wrong with myflashlight?

The batteries are dead

If I my hypothesis iscorrect…

……and I replace theand I replace the

batteriesbatteries



We can always generate alternativeWe can always generate alternative

hypotheses and test them in the samehypotheses and test them in the same

manner…manner…

Alternative hypotheses Alter native hypotheses::

The bulb is burned out…The bulb is burned out…

The contacts are corroded…The contacts are corroded…

The on-off switch is broken…The on-off switch is broken…



What did we learn?What did we learn?

We discovered that butterflies will land onWe discovered that butterflies will land onany color flower.any color flower.

We will adjust our hypothesis and tryWe will adjust our hypothesis and tryagain.again.

It is important to remember that when aIt is important to remember that when ahypothesis is proven false it does nothypothesis is proven false it does not

mean the experiment failed. Discoveriesmean the experiment failed. Discoverieshave still been made through the processhave still been made through the processof trial and error. Many great discoveriesof trial and error. Many great discoverieswere found after years of trial and error.were found after years of trial and error.



HomeworkHomework

Get some feedback from me aboutGet some feedback from me about

your topicyour topic

Write a hypothesisWrite a hypothesis

Write an annotated bibliography: 3Write an annotated bibliography: 3

sourcessources

– not websitesnot websites

– booksbooks

– Magazines, scientific journalsMagazines, scientific journals



Lab #2: Measuring MassLab #2: Measuring Mass

Scientific ObservationXX

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