The Scientific Method and Your Science Project

Each part of the scientific method will be Each part of the scientific method will be covered in class as well as the parts of the covered in class as well as the parts of the science project. In the end all things will science project. In the end all things will

be worked on at school except the be worked on at school except the experiment phase.experiment phase.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

The Scientific Method is a series of steps scientists use to answer questions and solve problems.

You will use the scientific method to You will use the scientific method to conduct your science project—which conduct your science project—which counts 300 points/3 test grades for 3counts 300 points/3 test grades for 3rdrd qtr. qtr.

Scientific Method songScientific Method song

Question Selection for Science ProjectsQuestion Selection for Science Projects Pick a question that interests you & one that you Pick a question that interests you & one that you

can find 3 facts to support.can find 3 facts to support.

If you cannot find the research/facts to support If you cannot find the research/facts to support your topic/hypothesis, your topic/hypothesis, then you cannot use that then you cannot use that question for your project.question for your project.

Pick a question that is measurable with numbers. Pick a question that is measurable with numbers. IT CANNOT BE USED IF YOU CANNOT MEASURE IT.IT CANNOT BE USED IF YOU CANNOT MEASURE IT.

Examples: plant growth = measurableExamples: plant growth = measurable building a model (such as a volcano) = not building a model (such as a volcano) = not

measurablemeasurable

Questions that will be investigated Questions that will be investigated at schoolat school

Which toilet paper is stronger—no brand or Angel Soft?Which toilet paper is stronger—no brand or Angel Soft?

Will rubber bands that are cold stretch farther than Will rubber bands that are cold stretch farther than ones that are at room temperature?ones that are at room temperature?

Will the dissolving time of aspiring be faster in Sprite Will the dissolving time of aspiring be faster in Sprite or tap water?or tap water?

Which search engine is the faster one—Google or Which search engine is the faster one—Google or Yahoo?Yahoo?

All research and materials will be provided to complete All research and materials will be provided to complete these projects at school. You can then use this these projects at school. You can then use this information to repeat the experiments at home by information to repeat the experiments at home by changing the variable in the experiment.changing the variable in the experiment.

Question selectionQuestion selection Everyone must submit their question to Everyone must submit their question to

be investigated by Friday, August 22.be investigated by Friday, August 22.

If you select one of the projects we are If you select one of the projects we are doing at school, then submit the question in doing at school, then submit the question in writing.writing.

If you have a different question, then submit If you have a different question, then submit it and how you will measure your data in it and how you will measure your data in writing for approval.writing for approval.

Unless you are a master gardener, avoid Unless you are a master gardener, avoid plants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!plants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Ask a Question—find something you are curious about

2. Purpose—why are you interested in answering your question; who would care about what you find out?

3. Research your question—find facts that inform you about your question & help you make a hypothesis

4. Form a Hypothesis—an educated guess based on the facts you looked up

8 Steps

8 steps continued8 steps continued5. Test the Hypothesis by Experimenting—use

your materials, write procedure while testing, do the experiment, & record data—numbers of measurement)

6. Analyze Results—look at your data

7. Draw Conclusions—decide if you were correct based on your data

8. Communicate Results

Pneumonic to remember the steps:Pneumonic to remember the steps:Queens probably rarely have egg and doughnut Queens probably rarely have egg and doughnut

cereal.cereal.

Queens—questionQueens—question

Probably—purposeProbably—purpose

Rarely—researchRarely—research

Have—hypothesisHave—hypothesis

Egg—experimentEgg—experiment

And—analyze dataAnd—analyze data

Doughnut—draw conclusionsDoughnut—draw conclusions

Cereal—communicate resultsCereal—communicate results

Ask a Question?/Come up with a problem

Good questions come from good observations.What do you want to know?

Example:How does acid rain affect plant growth?Will oak burn faster than balsa wood?Will a frozen tennis ball bounce higher than a room temperature tennis ball?

PurposePurpose

What’s the point in doing your project?What’s the point in doing your project?

Pick a project that will be meaningful and Pick a project that will be meaningful and helpful to many people.helpful to many people.

Bad example: Which ketchup brand Bad example: Which ketchup brand comes out of the bottle faster?comes out of the bottle faster?

Good example: Which brand of toilet Good example: Which brand of toilet paper is stronger—Charmin or Angel Soft?paper is stronger—Charmin or Angel Soft?

RESEARCH

You are looking for information that supports your hypothesis.

Research consists of information found in the following places: Books Magazines Newspapers Encyclopedias Websites Interviews of experts

Form A Hypothesis A hypothesis is a clear statement about

what you think will happen based on your observations & research about your question.

A hypothesis is an educated guess.

Examples: A frozen tennis ball will bounce higher than a

room temperature tennis ball. Acid rain will cause plants to grow more slowly

than tap water.

Test your HypothesisTest your Hypothesis

Gather materialsGather materials

Perform your experiment many Perform your experiment many timestimes Why? You have to make sure what Why? You have to make sure what

you found out is true and not just luck.you found out is true and not just luck. Shaq and free throwsShaq and free throws

Record data in data tablesRecord data in data tables

MaterialsMaterials You should make a list of You should make a list of allall materials materials

used in your experiment.used in your experiment. The list should be The list should be exactlyexactly what you used, what you used,

how many, what kind, how much, etc. how many, what kind, how much, etc. and and must be numberedmust be numbered..

Example:Example:1.1. 12 Burpee lima bean seeds 12 Burpee lima bean seeds2.2. 12 Duracell batteries, size AA 12 Duracell batteries, size AA3. 5 pounds of Miracle-Gro potting soil3. 5 pounds of Miracle-Gro potting soil4.4. 12, 6 inch pieces of balsa wood 12, 6 inch pieces of balsa wood

Performing Your ExperimentPerforming Your ExperimentPROCEDUREPROCEDURE

All All measurements should be precise—use the measurements should be precise—use the same measurer and measuring device same measurer and measuring device throughout the experiment to avoid error.throughout the experiment to avoid error.

Conditions should be the same for Conditions should be the same for allall tests——weather, heat, light, etc.weather, heat, light, etc.

You will have a You will have a control groupcontrol group and a and a variable variable groupgroup, with 12 test subjects in each group., with 12 test subjects in each group.

Procedures: What are Controls & Procedures: What are Controls & Variables?Variables?

Controls do not change—they are used for Controls do not change—they are used for comparison with the variablescomparison with the variables

Variables change—they are the things Variables change—they are the things upon which you try different conditionsupon which you try different conditions

Example: plants in grown in different soilsExample: plants in grown in different soils Control=normal dirtControl=normal dirt Variables: sand, clayVariables: sand, clay

Procedures continuedProcedures continued

You need to write your procedure as you do it, not 3 months later.

Example: 1. Gather materials. 2. Label control and variables, 1-12. 3. Place a hole in the bottom of each cup using

a pencil. 4. Fill each cup with 500 ml of Miracle Gro

potting soil.

Procedures include taking Procedures include taking PhotographsPhotographs

You will photograph your experiment using a digital camera or You will photograph your experiment using a digital camera or disposable camera.disposable camera.

You must have 20 photos of the project in progress. You must have 20 photos of the project in progress.

You must have at least 5 that do not have you in them—at least not You must have at least 5 that do not have you in them—at least not your face. your face. These will go on your showboard.These will go on your showboard.

The other 15 should show you conducting your experiment and will The other 15 should show you conducting your experiment and will be glued into your logbook.be glued into your logbook.

Recording DataRecording Data Your Your data should be collected as soon as you get data should be collected as soon as you get

resultsresults, this will vary depending on your project., this will vary depending on your project.

You willYou will use the metric system to take measurements. use the metric system to take measurements.

Examples:Examples: Meters/CentimetersMeters/Centimeters SecondsSeconds Liters/milliliters Liters/milliliters Grams/KilogramsGrams/Kilograms

DO NOT USE INCHES, FEET, CUPS, POUNDS as these are English units not metric units.

Recording Data in Metric UnitsRecording Data in Metric Units The System International or Metric System The System International or Metric System

is used by scientists all over the world.is used by scientists all over the world.

Standard units of measurement: (You must Standard units of measurement: (You must know these.)know these.) Length = meterLength = meter Volume (amount of liquid) = literVolume (amount of liquid) = liter Mass (weight) = gramMass (weight) = gram Time = secondTime = second

Your measurements for your project Your measurements for your project must be in metric units.must be in metric units.

This is how you will record your data: Sample Data TableThis is how you will record your data: Sample Data Table

TRIALSTRIALS Control: No Control: No FertilizerFertilizer

Height in Height in MetersMeters

Variable 1: Variable 1: Miracle GroMiracle Gro

Height in Height in MetersMeters

Variable 2: Variable 2: Bone MealBone Meal

Height in Height in MetersMeters

11 6 m6 m 8m8m 1 m1 m

22 7m7m 7m7m 2 m2 m

33 4m4m 9m9m 3 m3 m

44 5.5m5.5m 7m7m 4 m4 m

55 6m6m 11m11m 5 m5 m

66 8m8m 9m9m 6 m6 m

77 7.5m7.5m 8m8m 7 m7 m

88 4m4m 12m12m 8 m8 m

99 7m7m 10m10m 9 m9 m

1010 5m5m 8m8m 10 m10 m

1111 9m9m 9m9m 11 m11 m

1212 4.5m4.5m 8m8m 12 m12 m

Analyze ResultsAnalyze Results Organize your data using graphs and tablesOrganize your data using graphs and tables

created on the computer—your teacher will created on the computer—your teacher will show you how in the computer lab.show you how in the computer lab.

You must have 1 data table, 1 bar graph and You must have 1 data table, 1 bar graph and 1 line graph.1 line graph.

Each of these will be placed on your Each of these will be placed on your showboard.showboard.

Results must also include a paragraph that Results must also include a paragraph that states your results—there is a form in the states your results—there is a form in the form section for these.form section for these.

Draw ConclusionsDraw Conclusions

You will You will discuss whether or not your results discuss whether or not your results supported your hypothesis.supported your hypothesis.

Conclusions must include a paragraph that Conclusions must include a paragraph that states your conclusions—there is a form in states your conclusions—there is a form in the form section for these.the form section for these.

If your results do not support your If your results do not support your hypothesis, you need to try to explain what hypothesis, you need to try to explain what could have happened in the experiments to could have happened in the experiments to influence your results.influence your results.

Communicate ResultsCommunicate Results

You will present your findings to the You will present your findings to the class and discuss every aspect of your class and discuss every aspect of your project from start to finish.project from start to finish.

Your presentation will be in December or Your presentation will be in December or January.January.

ABSTRACTAn abstract is an overview or summary of your project that

includes a brief restatement of all the previous parts.

• Problem

• Purpose

• Research

• Hypothesis

• Experimental Procedure

• Results

• Conclusions

• It is to be written in paragraph form, no more than 250 words. See form section for a form for this.

ShowboardShowboard THE THE VERY LASTVERY LAST THING YOU WILL DO IS THING YOU WILL DO IS

ASSEMBLE YOUR INFORMATION ON YOUR ASSEMBLE YOUR INFORMATION ON YOUR SHOWBOARD.SHOWBOARD. These will be available for $10 from the school These will be available for $10 from the school

starting in November. starting in November. YOU DO NOT have to buy one from school; just use YOU DO NOT have to buy one from school; just use

on that is standard size—nothing small. Other boards on that is standard size—nothing small. Other boards are available all over town for $3 to $4.are available all over town for $3 to $4.

All information on it must be neatly typed in All information on it must be neatly typed in Arial or Times New Roman font. Arial or Times New Roman font.

It must be readable from at least 3 feet away.It must be readable from at least 3 feet away. It should follow the same layout as the It should follow the same layout as the

picture of the sample showboard.picture of the sample showboard.

Showboard continuedShowboard continued Graphs should have titles, and the y and x axes should be labeled.

X-axis is typically the Trial Number and the Y axis is the measurement type and units.

Example: Bounce Height in Centimeters or Average Plant Height in Centimeters.

Titles: All important words in titles should be capitalized. Titles should also be very descriptive. Do not just pick a title at random.

Do not type in ALL CAPS—this is screaming on paper.

Data tables should tell the reader what the numbers mean. Put a heading at the top of the column to define the numbers.

Make sure you spell check and stranger check your project. Your project and how you did it should be completed in enough detail that a stranger could pick up your project and complete it start to finish just as you did with only what is on your showboard.

TITLE—it describes the projectPROBLEM

HYPOTHESIS

MATERIALS

PROCEDURES RESULTS

ABSTRACT

DATA TABLE

(BAR) (LINE)Graphs

AA BB CC

11 22 33

Caption Caption

Caption CaptionCaption

PURPOSE

CONCLUSIONS

Pictures with

captions underneath