Scientific Method
Lesson 2
Scientist _________________________________
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Do Now
• Put the following on the folder.
– First and last name
– Science
– Period 9
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Do Now
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKoB0M
HVBvM
• In one sentence, summarize the video.
• What idea is being put forth in the video?
• If you could ask the two Scientist a question,
What would it be?
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Essential Question
• How can the scientific method be used to answer
testable questions?
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Vocabulary
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Scientific method
testable question
non-testable question
hypothesis
variable
control group
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Pretest:
• What are the steps to the scientific method.
• List them below.
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Steps of the Scientific Method
1. State the problem in the form of a testable
question.
2. Research and gather information.
3. Form a hypothesis.
4. Perform an experiment.
5. Collect and analyze data.
6. Draw conclusions.
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Do Now
On the line paper you were given at the door,
Respond to the following
• If you could do a science
experiment of your own, what
would it be?
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What is the scientific method?
1. It is a simple method scientists use to
conduct an investigation.
2. It is a way to ask & answer scientific
questions by asking questions & conducting
experiments.
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1. Question/Problem
1. State the problem in the form of a testable
question.
2. Ask a question about something observed.
– Why?
– How?
– What?
3. Develop a question that is measurable or that
can be tested.
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What is a “Testable Question?”
1. A testable question is one that can be answerer by
designing and conducting an experiment.
2. Testable questions are always about changing one
thing to see what the effect is on another thing.
Testable Question Formats
independent
variable
dependent
variable
• Does changing _______ affect _______?
independent
variable
dependent
variable
• How does changing _____ affect _____?
independent
variable
dependent
variable
• If I change ______ will it affect ______?
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Variables
1. A variable is something that can CHANGE.
2. Independent Variable: The variable that will
changed by you- the scientist. A good
experiment only has one independent variable.
3. Dependent Variable: The variable that is being
measured in your experiment. The effect or
outcome to the change you make using the
independent variable.
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Example: Does changing the height of the ramp
affect the speed of the car going down the ramp?
What is the independent variable?
Does changing the height of the ramp affect
the speed of the car going down the ramp?
What is the dependent variable?
Does changing the height of the ramp affect the
speed of the car going down the ramp?
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Another Testable Question
• Does changing the amount of light affect
the growth rate of plants?
Identify the INDEPENDENT variable
Identify the DEPENDENT variable
Amount of light
Growth rate
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Is this a Testable Question? Why or Why not?
What makes plants grow best?
How to Turn a General Question
into a Testable Question
1. Think of a cause and an effect related to your question.
2. In this case, the idea is that you can change something to
affect something about how a plant grows.
3. Controls are all the factors in your experiment that you want
to remain constant.
“What is the effect of soil type on plant height?”
Controls for the plant experiment:
type of plant
growing conditions (sunlight, temperature, etc.)
amount of water
type of container
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2. Research/Gather Information
1. Make observations.
2. Find out as much as you can about the topic.
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3. Hypothesis
1. Educated guess about how things work.
2. Prediction that can be tested in an
experiment.
3. Use If, then statements
– If ____ [I do this], then _____ [this will happen]
IMPORTANT- Focus on one variable only.
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4. Experiment
1. A carefully designed procedure to test
your hypothesis.
2. Change only one variable at a time.
3. Use a control or control group. One group must
not be changed.
4. In order for results to be valid, conduct several
tests.
5. Carefully collect observations and record your
data in a data table.
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4. Experiment
• Data table.
–
–
–
–
Numerical (quantitative) data organized in rows and columns
The specific independent variables are listed
The number of trials are listed
Blanks are left for the data (dependent variable) to be filled in
Trial
Variable 1
Variable 2
Variable 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
AVERAGE
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5. Collect and Analyze Data
1. What can your data tell you?
2. Create graphs or charts
a. Graph the data to look for trends & relationships.
3. Use the average and the mean to compare
data between two groups.
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6. Conclusion
1. Summary of your experiment.
2. Use your data analysis to decide if your
observations either support or do not support your
hypothesis.
3. If your data does not support your hypothesis, give
possible reasons to explain this.
4. How could you redesign your experiment with what
you have learned? How could you improve your
experiment?
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Discuss
• With a shoulder partner, discuss why scientists
use the scientific method.
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Scientific Method Song
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8427L0
Wry0
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Scientific Method
Important Ideas
1.
Why are these ideas important?
2.
2.
3.
3.
Which idea is relevant for today?
Which idea (from above) interests you the
most and why?
1.
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Partner Work
• Bikini Bottom ExperimentBikinibttmlab
studentpkt-1.pdf
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Performance Task
You have just been hired by DSL Digital Poster
Company to design and create a Digital Poster
for the scientific method. Your Digital Poster
must include certain components outlined by
the company’s CEO, CEO Lantzy. Using the online
program Glogster, you will be able to showcase
your poster making talents and demonstrate
your understanding of the scientific method.
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Glogster
• Glogster: Create and Explore Educational
Content Online
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Digital Poster Rubric
• Digital Poster Rubric.docx
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Summarization Activity
IN YOUR OWN WORD
• Describe to a neighbor in your own words how the scientific
method can be used to answer a testable question. Write a
summary or your discussion below.
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Scientific Method Quiz
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