What is the Scientific Method? The scientific method is the _________________________scientists use to  _______________________ why things happen the way that they do.  What is Moby’s problem? Moby’s problem is the ________________________is dying even though  ________________________________________.  What observations does Tim make about Moby’s plant? __________________________ ___________________________ 

PROCEDURE

EXPLAIN

PLANT

he is Watering it

Leaves brown and falling off

The soil is wet and swishy

What is Tim’s hypothesis?  Fig plants do best if you only _______________ then ______________ a week.

What are Tim’s results? List what Tim observes after one month. Plant A ______________________________ Plant B _______________________________ Plant C _______________________________ Plant D _______________________________  What is Tim’s conclusion? Fig plants grow best when _____________________________.  

WATER ONCE

WATERED ONCE a WEEK

DOES NOT LOOK GOOD

DOES NOT LOOK GOOD

LOOKS a LITTLE BETTER

LOOKS GOOD

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

All scientists have burning questions about the world around them. To answer these questions they follow a structure called the scientific method.

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The scientific method is a

series of steps that allows scientists to tests their

questions in an organized way.

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD??

THE 7 STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

What do you want to explore? Ask a question about it. • Choose something

that is testable. • Choose something

that can be answered with a experiment.

STPE #1: ASK A QUESTION

What is already known about your topic? Look in books and on the internet.

Define key words. 

STEP #2: RESEARCH YOUR PROBLEM

What do you think the answer to your question or problem will be? • A hypothesis is an

educated guess based on knowledge or observation

• You must be able to experimentally test your hypothesis.

STEP #3: DEVELOP YOUR HYPOTHESIS

GOTCHA …..While you were at the store (lol)

• Write the steps for how you will test your hypothesis.

 • List the materials you will need,

including exact amounts of each item.

 • List each thing you will do.

Number each step in order. Write down everything you will do.

 • Your procedure must be so

detailed that another scientist could follow it.

STEP #4: WRITE YOUR PROCEDURE

• Get your materials, follow your procedure, and make observations.

 • While taking data,

you should record qualitative and quantitative observations.

STEP #5: TEST YOUR HYPOTHESIS

• Record as much data as possible.

 • Use your data to

make graphs, charts, or tables.

STEP #6: ORGANIZE YOUR DATA

What happened? Was it what you expected? Why or why not?

 

In the conclusion, scientists answer the question that the experiment asked.

 

Look at your results and decide what it tells you about your hypothesis. Summarize your data.

STEP #7: STATE YOUR CONCLUSION