LET’S INVESTIGATE: The Scientific Method
Housekeeping
Equipment Needed For This Subject
 An exercise book
 A pen
 A computer
 A willingness to work in teams
 Resilience
SCIENCE Course Outline 2018
Unit
1. Introduction to the
Scientific Method
Learning Intentions:
To list the steps involved in
the scientific method
To identify the steps in the
scientific method when
performing an experiment
To use the scientific method
to write a lab report
2. Practicing the Scientific
Method
Learning Intentions:
To use the scientific method
to design, execute and report
on an experiment in a group
Week
1
Term 4
Key Knowledge
Steps involved in the scientific method
Safety when performing an experiment
Key Skills
List steps of the scientific method
Perform an experiment
2
Layout of a lab report, including key
components
Structure of each section in a lab report
Structure of a scientific poster
3
Design an experiment in a field of interest
Background information of field of interest
4
Apply scientific method to experiment
5
Different ways of representing results
Structure of a conclusion
6
Design/Re-design an experiment in a field of
interest
Background information of field of interest
7
Apply scientific method to experiment
8
Effectively using feedback
Set up the structure of a lab report
Write a lab report on an experiment
performed
Convert a lab report into a professional
scientific poster
Write an aim, materials and method list
Research information on the background of
the field of interest
Use background knowledge to produce a
hypothesis
Perform experiment using scientific method
Use background knowledge to write an
introduction
Analyse results from experiment
Write the results, discussion and conclusion for
experiment
Produce a professional scientific poster
Write an aim, materials and method list using
feedback provided on previous task
Research information on the background of
the field of interest
Use background knowledge to produce a
hypothesis
Perform experiment using scientific method
Use background knowledge and previous
feedback provided to write an introduction
Analyse results from experiment
Use feedback from previous task to write the
results, discussion and conclusion for
experiment
Produce a professional scientific poster
Course Outline
3. Applying the Scientific
Method
Learning Intentions:
To use the scientific method
to design, execute and report
on an experiment as an
individual
Homework /Assessment
ALT 1 – Scientific report and poster
Due: 26/10/18
ALT 2.1 – Group designed scientific poster
Due: 16/11/18
ALT 2.2 – Individually designed scientific poster
Due: 30/11/18
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
NAME:
…………………………………………………..
Getting To Know You Worksheet
What do you enjoy most
about Science?
______________
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Why did you choose this subject?
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
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What do you think we will be doing in this subject?
________________________________________
________________________________________
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Unit 1 – Introduction to
the Scientific Method
• To list the steps involved in the scientific method
• To identify the steps in the scientific method
when performing an experiment
• To use the scientific method to write a lab report
L1: Planning, Conducting and Recording
Learning Intention
Success Criteria
 Safely use appropriate tools,
material and equipment
 Can safely perform the experiment,
using repeat trials
 Use appropriate equipment to
collect and record accurate and
reliable data
 Can collaborate with other group
members
 Use repeat trials to improve
accuracy, precision and reliability
 Can collect and record accurate and
reliable data
Experiment
 Before we learn about the scientific method, we will need some information and data
 Working in groups of 3, you will need:




A recorder
A participant
A tester
A ruler
 You will rotate through so each person in the group has a chance to perform each role
 At the end of the experiment we should have a class set of data
Does reaction rate improve with practice?
 The participant will hold out their dominant hand
 The tester needs to set the ruler so that the 0 is at the top of the participant’s hand
 The tester will count down from 3 (3, 2, 1,…) and drop the ruler
 The participant needs to try to catch the ruler as fast as possible
 The recorder writes down the length on the ruler at the top of the participant’s hand
 Repeat the experiment 10 times for each person in the group
Name
Participant 1
Participant 2
Participant 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
L2: The Steps of the Scientific Method
Learning Intention
Success Criteria
 Describe the scientific method
 Can list and describe the steps of
the scientific method
 Analyse an effective aim and
hypothesis
 Describe what is included in the
introduction of a lab report
 Can write an aim and hypothesis for
the experiment conducted in our
last lesson
 Can start writing an introduction for
the experiment conducted in our
last lesson
What is the Scientific Method?
 It is the steps someone takes to identify a question, develop a hypothesis, design
or carry out procedures to test the hypothesis, write down data and draw a
conclusion
 In other words, it is a way to solve a problem
 The problem we are trying to solve is:
Does reaction rate improve with practice?
Think like a scientist…
 Scientists take time to think logically when they are investigating a question or
problem
 They bring things down into many steps that make sense
Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Make OBSERVATIONS
2. Ask a QUESTION or identify a problem
3. Gather information and form a HYPOTHESIS
4. Create an EXPERIMENT to test your hypothesis
5. Collect and ANALYSE data and observations by doing
the experiment
6. Draw a CONCLUSION and share your findings
Asking questions
Do plants need water
to grow?
Does exercise
make your
heart beat
faster?
All investigations start
with a question !
Aim
 Purpose of the experiment
 Needs to be:
 Relevant to the experiment
 Specific – What will change?
 Measurable – How will you measure if a change has occurred?
Does more water
make plants grow
taller?
Does football
make your heart
beat faster than
basketball?
What question could these students be investigating?
Do Now…
 Write an aim for the experiment completed in our last lesson
I Predict That…
 A hypothesis is the same thing as a prediction
 It is an educated guess or what you think is going to happen in your experiment
 Hypotheses describe the variable you will change and the outcome you expect
 For example: It is predicted if different materials are tested for conductivity then
metals will be the best conductors of electricity
What is a hypothesis for each of these experiments?
What could the aim and hypothesis of this experiment be?
Do Now…
 Write a hypothesis for the experiment completed in our last lesson
Reporting – Introduction Paragraph
 Begin with a one- or two-sentence overview of the purpose of the investigation
and why the research question is of interest
 The middle of the introduction paragraph should cover the background theory
 This is where you include relevant secondary sources of reliable information
 The introduction ends with the hypothesis
 Sufficient background information, definitions and relevant formulas should be
used to enable a peer to understand the nature of the investigation
Example Introduction
Purpose of
the
experiment
Background
information
Hypothesis
 The purpose of this experiment is
to determine if plants grow faster
when exposed to more light.
Plants use the process of
photosynthesis to convert the
sun’s light into energy so that they
can grow. Therefore, it is predicted
that plants exposed to a constant
UV light will grow faster over a 28
day period compared with plants
that are entirely deprived of light.
Writing an Introduction
 In pairs, write an introduction for this experiment
Do Now…
 Write an introduction for the experiment completed in our last lesson
L3 – Steps of the Scientific Method
Learning Intention
Success Criteria
 Define independent and dependent
variables
 Name the independent and
dependent variables in an
experiment
 Describe how to maintain a fair test
and ensure results are valid and
reliable
 Distinguish between quantitative
and qualitative data types
 Make a list of the steps taken to
maintain a fair test in an
experiment
 Identify an experiment that is not
fair and explain how to make it
valid and reliable
 Create a line graph of results from
an experiment
Designing an Experiment
 The next step scientists take is to create and conduct an experiment to test their
hypothesis
 Conducting a fair test is one of the most important parts of doing good,
scientifically valuable experiments
 A fair test is when we keep everything the same except the variable we are changing
 In every experiment, we need two variables:
 Independent variable – variable that is changed or controlled, plotted on the x axis
 Dependent variable – the variable being tested or measured, plotted on the y axis
What is the independent and dependent variable for our ruler experiment?
What steps were taken to ensure our ruler experiment was a fair test?
Controlled Experiments
Experimental groups:
Variable has been changed
 There are two groups in controlled experiments:
1.
2.
Experimental group – contains the independent variable
Control group – does not contain the independent variable
 The control group is used to compare the results from the
experimental group
We didn’t use a control group in our ruler experiment.
Can you list some ways we could have changed the
experiment so that we did have a control group?
Control group:
No variable
Validity Vs Reliability
 Valid: Your results happened because of the variable you changed
 Reliable: Your results can be repeated
Would the results for this experiment be valid and reliable?
What would you change to make this a fair test?
After Doing The Experiment – Analysis (Results)
 A key to experiments is observing what happens and writing it down
 Gathering information or data is very important. Write it down so it is readable
and makes sense to the other people who read it
 After the experiment, you need to write in detail what happened in your
experiment
Data Types
Quantitative Data
Qualitative Data
 Data recorded with numbers
 Data recorded with words
 Recorded in tables and graphs
 Recorded using descriptive dot
points or sentences
Do Now…
 Use the results recorded from our ruler experiment to create a line graph
L4 – Reporting the Findings
Learning Intention
Success Criteria
 List the different parts required for
a discussion and conclusion
 Can explain how the discussion
parts link together
 Use results to reflect on the
experiment
 Can write a discussion following the
example provided
 Write a discussion and conclusion
for the ruler experiment
 Can write a conclusion for the ruler
experiment
Discussion Part 1
 Were the results what you expected?
 Was your hypothesis supported?
 Make reference to your results to support your answer.
 Example if results were not expected:
 The hypothesis was not supported as it was expected for the rocket with the greatest volume of
vinegar (6 mL) to travel the highest but it only reached approximately 0.9 m. The rocket with 4 mL of
vinegar went the highest, reaching approximately 1.2 m.
 Example if results were expected:
 It was found that metals were the best conductors of electricity, as they allowed the bulb to light
compared with the other materials that did not, except for pencil lead. This finding supports the
hypothesis.
Discussion Part 2
 Were there any errors in your experiment?
 Do you think there was anything that might have affected your results?
 Justify why you think it could have affected your results.
 Example: There could have been an error in measurement when measuring the
height each rocket travelled because the ruler was held against the wall and sight
was used to make a rough estimation of the height reached. The observations
would not have been accurate because of how fast the rockets travelled.
Discussion Part 3
 If you were to repeat the experiment again, what would you change in order to
reduce the number of errors?
 Example: If this experiment were to be repeated a camera could be set up to
record the rocket. Then the footage could be slowed down to more accurately
measure the height it went.
Drawing a Conclusion
Your hypothesis
does not have to
be correct!!
 Are your results what you expected?
 Explain why your hypothesis was right or wrong
 Example: It was predicted that metals would be the best conductors of electricity
and the results of the experiment support the hypothesis. All of the materials
that were metal made the bulbs light. All of the materials that were metal did
not, except for the pencil lead.
You need to look back at your
AIM & HYPOTHESIS and see
if your results support it!
L5 – Producing a Lab Report
Learning Intention
Success Criteria
 List the sections required for a lab
report
 Can write a lab report linking the
appropriate sections of the lab
report
 Proofread and evaluate individual
work
 Complete a lab report on the ruler
experiment
 Can proofread work and ensure it is
ready to submit
 Can evaluate final lab report using
rubric
Producing a Lab Report
 Introduction
 Aim
 Hypothesis
 Methodology
 Results
 Line graph made in Excel
 Discussion
 Conclusion
L6 – Creating a Scientific Poster
Learning Intention
Success Criteria
 Convert lab report to scientific
poster
 Can create a scientific poster from a
lab report
 Identify correct layout for scientific
posters
 Can identify appropriate layout
options for a scientific poster
 Identify areas of improvement for
ALT using rubric
 Can self-evaluate using rubric for
ALT
Converting to a Scientific Poster
 All of the sections are the same as for the lab report
 When converting need to look at overall layout of poster and make sure it is
appealing to the eye – you want everyone to stop and look at your poster!
Your Research Question
Insert relevant image
here
First Name Last Name
Results
Graph title
A clear aim
A hypothesis and/or prediction (If…then…)
Explained relevant concepts
Methodology
Think about the most appropriate way to present the data you have
collected
Check that you have followed appropriate scientific conventions – each
graph/table/image needs a title and number so it can be easily referred
to in the discussion
Choose appropriate graph for data obtained
1
0
C…
Explanation/reason for undertaking the investigation
Present collected data/evidence in a way that illustrates any trends,
patterns and/or relationships
C…
Remember to include:
Назва…
Remember to:
C…
Introduction
l…
Insert relevant image
here
Название оси
Chart 1. Label in 24pt Calibri.
Graphs should have the independent variable on the horizontal (x) axis,
the dependent variable on the vertical (y) axis and both axis should be
labelled including appropriate units of measurement
Discussion
Remember to:
Remember to include:
Summary of the experimental method used and the reasons for
choosing this method
Enough information for someone unfamiliar with the experiment to be
able to replicate it
Heading
Heading
Heading
Item
800
790
4001
Item
356
856
290
Item
Steps you have taken to ensure: fair test/validity/reliability
Information about: the independent variable/dependent variable, any
controls
Any risk identification/ management and health, safety and ethical
guidelines followed in the investigation
You may
a
228 wish to include
134
table if appropriate
238
Item
954
875
976
Item
324
325
301
Item
199
137
186
Analyse and evaluate the results to identify any
trends/patterns/relationships that may exist between the variables
under investigation
Only mention correlations/links between the variables if there is
evidence of this in the results obtained
Identify any limitations in data and methods, and suggest
improvements
Link the results to any relevant concepts
Table 1. Label in 24pt Calibri.
Conclusion
Insert photo/diagram relating to
experiment/results if appropriate
Insert photo/diagram relating to
experiment/results if appropriate
Figure 2. Label in 24pt Calibri.
Figure 1. Label in 24pt Calibri.
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Remember to:
Keep your conclusion brief and ensure it responds to the hypothesis
and/or the investigation question
Only determine your conclusion from the data obtained in the
investigation
Take into account any uncertainties or errors identified in the
discussion
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge…