What is the

Scientific

Method?

Scientific

Science = something we use

during science class or

something that a scientist

would use.

Method

Method = a way of doing

something, or the steps

you take to complete a

task.

Scientific Method

The steps that

scientists use

to solve a

problem or

conduct an

investigation!

What are the steps of

the scientific method?1. Background Information

2. Problem

3. Hypothesis

4. Materials

5. Procedure

6. Data

7. Discussion

8. Conclusion

Let’s talk

about them

one at a time!

Background Information

Background information is information that you research before you conduct your investigation.

It might be information you already know!

This information helps you clearly understand your topic before you begin conducting experiments.

This might include safety information!

If you were doing an experiment

with M&M’s, would you have

any Background information?

Sure you would!

1. What colors do they come in?

2. What types of M&M’s are there?

What else can you come up with about M&M’s?

You see, you are

already very

smart!

Problem

A problem is the

question you (the

scientist) plan to answer

by conducting the

scientific investigation.

Think of this problem about

Open House?

Problem: What will happen if your parents come to open house?

A Problem is always stated as a question. It is the question that you want to solve or answer during your scientific investigation.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is an educated

guess or explanation that

answers the question in the

problem. This is what you

THINK the answer might be.

A hypothesis should be

written as an IF/THEN

statement!

Cause and effect

When one thing happens it causes

another thing to happen.

Example: If I run in the hall, Then I

will get hurt.

Let’s Practice!

Look at the overhead and

read the stories,

What are some possible

hypotheses?

Try to list at least 10 for each!

Let’s Practice with Data!

Look at the DATA on the overhead and write a

complete hypothesis for each!

1. If the amount of salt added to water is

increased, Then the temperature at

which boiling starts will increase

The amount of salt can be changed, so it

is the “if” statement. It causes the

temperature to change, so the

temperature change is the “then”

statement.

Let’s Practice with Data!

2. If the number of turns of wire is increased, Then the number of paper clips picked up will increase.

The number of turns of wire causes the number of paper clips picked up to increase, so the turns of wire is the if statement and the paper clips picked up is the then statement. The ammeter reading did not change, we call this a constant, it is not included in the hypothesis.

Let’s Practice with Data!

3. If different size pieces of sugar are put in hot water, then the smaller size pieces will dissolve faster.

The size of the sugar controls the time it takes to dissolve. So the size of the sugar is the cause or “if statement and the time to dissolve is the effect or the “then statement.

Let’s Practice for

Homework!Write a hypothesis to the following problems:

1. What will happen if I don’t wear safety goggles in the lab?

2. What will happen if I don’t complete my homework?

3. How many drops of water can a penny hold?

4. If we fill a baby food jar with water, then how many drops of water will it take to cause the jar to overflow?

MaterialsThis is the list of

supplies and

equipment that you

will need to prove

whether

or not your

hypothesis

is correct.

Rules for listing

materials

1. Be descriptive! (tell me the size,

shape, color etc.)

2. Be precise! (Say 50ml of water and not

a little bit of water)

3. Don’t forget what you will need to

clean up!

4. If you need a liquid, you’ll need

something to hold the liquid in.

ProcedureThe list of steps that you will

follow to prove whether or not your hypothesis was accepted or rejected.

These will be numbered steps, in exactly the order that you will follow them.

List each step separately and be as descriptive as possible.

Data

Data can be

displayed in charts

or graphs!

DiscussionThese are the questions that you

have thought of during the

experiment!

Things that you wonder about!

AND NOW….

THE BIGGIE….

Conclusion

ConclusionThe Conclusion is the answer to the problem,

that you discovered during your scientific

investigation.

The Conclusion has 5 parts…

1. The hypothesis was accepted/rejected.

2. It Stated…

3. To test the hypothesis…

4. During the test it was observed…

5. Therefore…

Let’s PracticeWrite a conclusion for one of

the hypotheses that you

made in the previous

section. You can make up

the details of the lab, just

use correct format.

If the number of turns of

wire is increased,

Then the number

of paper clips

picked up will increase.

Paper Clip LabThe Hypothesis is accepted. It stated, If the

number of turns of wire is increased,

Then the number of paper clips picked

up will increase. To test the hypothesis,

wire was wrapped around a nail 5, 10

and 15 times, the end of wire was

connected to a battery and we

attempted to pick up paper clips with

the nail.

Paper Clip LabDuring the test it was observed, that the more

times we wrapped the wire around the nail,

the more paper clips it picked up. When the

wire was wrapped around the nail 5 times,

the nail picked up 4 paper clips. When the

wire was wrapped around the nail 10 times,

the nail picked up 8 paper clips. When the

wire was wrapped around the nail 15 times,

the nail picked up 12 paper clips.

Paper Clip LabTherefore the conclusion is the same as the

hypothesis, which stated If the number of

turns of wire is increased, Then the

number of paper clips picked up will

increase.

You should practice

writing more

conclusions, we will be

writing a lot of

conclusions through out

the school year.

Great Job!Now let’s review. On your own paper write

down just the answers to the following

questions.

1. List the 8 steps of the scientific method in

order.

2. Which step of the scientific method is the

questions that arise during the lab

experiment?

3. Which step of the scientific method comes

before procedure?

Now let’s say the 8 steps of the

scientific method all together!

1. Background Information

2. Problem

3. Hypothesis

4. Materials

5. Procedure

6. Data

7. Discussion

8. Conclusion

Congratulations!

You are almost ready for the

scientific method test!