Understanding Fossil ButteUnderstanding Fossil ButteIn the southwest corner of Wyoming, there is a In the southwest corner of Wyoming, there is a flat-topped mountain called Fossil Butte. A fossil flat-topped mountain called Fossil Butte. A fossil of a fish was found near the top of the Fossil of a fish was found near the top of the Fossil Butte in a rock formation that is about 50 million Butte in a rock formation that is about 50 million years old. Fossils of other kinds of fish, as well years old. Fossils of other kinds of fish, as well as turtles, have been found at Fossil Butte. The as turtles, have been found at Fossil Butte. The land around Fossil Butte is dry, and the Pacific land around Fossil Butte is dry, and the Pacific Ocean is more than 1000km away. How could Ocean is more than 1000km away. How could fossils of sea-dwelling animals have formed at fossils of sea-dwelling animals have formed at Fossil Butte?Fossil Butte?

Understanding Fossil ButteUnderstanding Fossil Butte1)1) Working with a partner, think of several Working with a partner, think of several

questions that a scientist might ask in questions that a scientist might ask in order to understand why there are fish order to understand why there are fish fossils in the desert of Wyoming. Write fossils in the desert of Wyoming. Write these questions on a sheet of paper. these questions on a sheet of paper.

2)2) Discuss your questions with your Discuss your questions with your partner, and suggest a possible answer partner, and suggest a possible answer to each question. to each question.

3)3) How could a scientist go about fishing an How could a scientist go about fishing an answer to each of the questions?answer to each of the questions?

WHAT IS SCIENCE?WHAT IS SCIENCE?The Scientific Method & The Scientific Method & Parts of the ExperimentParts of the Experiment

QUICK WRITE!QUICK WRITE!What do you know about the What do you know about the

scientific method?scientific method?

GOALS OF SCIENCEGOALS OF SCIENCEInvestigate and understand natureInvestigate and understand natureExplain events in natureExplain events in nature

Use those explanations to make useful Use those explanations to make useful predictionspredictions

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method There are FIVE main steps to the There are FIVE main steps to the

scientific method:scientific method:1.1. Stating the ProblemStating the Problem2.2. Forming a HypothesisForming a Hypothesis3.3. Setting up a controlled experimentSetting up a controlled experiment4.4. Recording and analyzing the resultsRecording and analyzing the results5.5. Drawing conclusionsDrawing conclusions

STATING THE PROBLEMSTATING THE PROBLEM This can be in the form of a question or statement.This can be in the form of a question or statement. Implies that an Implies that an observationobservation has been made to lead has been made to lead

to a question…to a question… Science is based on experimentation and Science is based on experimentation and

observationobservation Observations can be:Observations can be:

Made directly with your sensesMade directly with your senses ColorColor TasteTaste ShapeShape FeelFeel SmellSmell

INFERENCESINFERENCES In contrast to observations, which are things In contrast to observations, which are things

that we see or measure, that we see or measure, inferencesinferences are are conclusions based conclusions based solelysolely on observation on observationThe only rule of inferring is to be logicalThe only rule of inferring is to be logicalThey are always tentative, meaning, they are not They are always tentative, meaning, they are not

final explanationsfinal explanationsUsually changed when new information is gained, Usually changed when new information is gained,

or observations are madeor observations are made

FORMING A HYPOTHESISFORMING A HYPOTHESISA “testable” statement, a possible A “testable” statement, a possible

explanation that explains known facts and explanation that explains known facts and predicts new factspredicts new facts

Should be in the form Should be in the form ““If... then…”If... then…”Cause and EffectCause and Effect

DESIGNING AN EXPERIMENTDESIGNING AN EXPERIMENT Must have several things:Must have several things:

VARIABLESVARIABLES Experimental Group(s) Experimental Group(s)

receives all of the conditions of the experimentreceives all of the conditions of the experiment Independent (manipulated) Variable – one thing that is changedIndependent (manipulated) Variable – one thing that is changed Dependent (responding) Variable – measurable result of the Dependent (responding) Variable – measurable result of the

independent variableindependent variable Control Group Control Group

receives all of the conditions of the experiment except one (the receives all of the conditions of the experiment except one (the independent variable)independent variable)

used as a means for comparison in the experimentused as a means for comparison in the experiment CONSTANTSCONSTANTS

Factors in the experiment that are maintained throughout the Factors in the experiment that are maintained throughout the experiment, they remain the SAME throughoutexperiment, they remain the SAME throughout

PROCEDUREPROCEDURE Must be clear and detailedMust be clear and detailed

RECORDING & ANALYZING DATARECORDING & ANALYZING DATARECORDING DATARECORDING DATA

Numerical data should Numerical data should be graphed and/or be graphed and/or tabledtabled

Observations should be Observations should be written in clear, written in clear, complete sentences.complete sentences.

TWO TYPES OF DATATWO TYPES OF DATA Qualitative – descriptive; Qualitative – descriptive;

a behavior or a behavior or appearanceappearance

Quantitative – numerical Quantitative – numerical datadata

Independent variable

(unit)

Dependent variable

(unit)

RECORDING & ANALYZING DATARECORDING & ANALYZING DATA ANALYZING DATAANALYZING DATA

Attempt to figure out what the collected data means… why did it Attempt to figure out what the collected data means… why did it happen as it did?happen as it did?

Independent variable (unit)

Depe

nden

t var

iabl

e (

unit)

GraphingGraphingGraph Graph

A visual display of information or dataA visual display of information or dataThree main typesThree main types

LINE GRAPHLINE GRAPHBAR GRAPHBAR GRAPHPIE GRAPHPIE GRAPH

Line GraphLine GraphShows how data changes over time or shows Shows how data changes over time or shows

basic trendsbasic trendsPlotting dataPlotting data

Independent variable = x-axisIndependent variable = x-axisDependent variable = y-axisDependent variable = y-axis

Bar GraphBar GraphCompares information collected by Compares information collected by

counting groupscounting groupsPlotted the same as a line graphPlotted the same as a line graph

Pie GraphPie GraphShows how some fixed quantity is broken Shows how some fixed quantity is broken

down into partsdown into parts

FORM CONCLUSIONSFORM CONCLUSIONSBe sure to draw conclusions based on the data Be sure to draw conclusions based on the data

collected. collected. Make inferences based on prior knowledge Make inferences based on prior knowledge

and the new knowledge gained in the and the new knowledge gained in the experiment.experiment.

DO NOT restate the procedure or simply DO NOT restate the procedure or simply restate the results… restate the results… How do the results compare to your hypothesis?How do the results compare to your hypothesis?How can this data be used further?How can this data be used further?What other tests could be done?What other tests could be done?