AIM: What is the
Scientific Method?
Have you ever heard of the
Scientific Method?
67%
o
N
s
33%
Ye
1. Yes
2. No
What does “method” mean?
79%
1. Graph to interpret
2. Data to record
3. Steps to follow
17%
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s
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to
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G
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4%
One
Two
infinite
Depends on the
textbook
71%
17%
13%
te
o
D
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in
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.
fin
i
Tw
ne
0%
O
1.
2.
3.
4.
How many step are there to the
scientific method
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
• IDENTIFY the problem
•BACKGROUND INFORMATION
•HYPOTHESIS
•Design and Conduct EXPERIMENT
•RECORD YOUR DATA
•ANALYZE / INTERPRET: (graphs)
•CONCLUSION
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
• IDENTIFY the problem: what is the
question we are trying to solve
•GATHER basic information: about
your problem do some background
research
•STATE your HYPOTHESIS!
(what you are trying to prove, often
stated as an “if….then …”)
sometimes the 3 are combined
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
•EXPERIMENT: (design and conduct
your experiment to test your hypothesis)
•RECORD YOUR DATA: (record your
results with words or tables, or both)
•ANALYZE AND INTERPRET: (think
about your results, identify trends, make
inferences, perhaps prepare charts or
graphs)
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
•STATE YOUR CONCLUSIONS:
*should answer your hypothesis based
upon your experiment, observations and
data
*should be in a well formed paragraph
*should state whether your original
hypothesis was right or wrong
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
Example:
•What do we know about plants, what
do they need?
•Do we know for sure how much water
they need?
•Let’s follow the 7 steps of the Scientific
Method
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
Step1: Identify the problem - How much
water is the best for my plants?
Step2: Gather background information a)Referral --ask Mr. Cohen or Mr. Ryal
b)Research -- look it up on the internet
c)Expert -- go ask somebody at the plant
store
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
Step3: State my Hypothesis
“If I water my plants three times per
week then they will grow the best”
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
Step 4: WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP?
What is the next step...
83%
1. Design/Do
2. Interpret data
3. Record data
ta
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In
da
da
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o
/D
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8%
a
8%
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
1. Use three plants
2. Water Plant 1, one time per week
3. Water Plant 2, two times per week
4. Water Pant 3, three time per week
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
WAIT: Before I begin my experiment,
Do the plants need the same amount of sun?
Do I have to use the same type of soil?
Do I have to use the same type of plant?
Do I have to give each the same amount/type
of fertilizer?
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
What is the next step...
83%
1. Design/Do
2. Interpret data
3. Record data
13%
ta
da
or
d
ec
R
te
rp
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In
D
es
ig
n
/D
da
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a
4%
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
P lan t #
# of
tim es
W eek 1 W eek 2
(in ch es)
W eek 3
1
1x
1
4
6
2
2x
1
6
12
3
3x
1
4
4
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
What is the next step...
96%
1. Design/Do
2. Interpret data
3. Record data
4%
ta
da
or
d
ec
R
te
rp
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t
In
D
es
ig
n
/D
da
t
o
a
0%
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
Interpret your results?
HOW?
Look for a pattern?
HOW?
GRAPH IT!
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
STEP 7: STATE YOUR CONCLUSIONS!
Since Plant #2 grew the best, I should
water my plants 2 times per week. I
should not water my plants 3x times
per week.
My hypothesis was not correct.
Notice how my conclusion relates back
to my hypothesis!
What is the first step of the SM...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
conclusion
Record data
Interpret data
Design and do exp.
Background info
Hypothesis
Identify problem
What is the second step of the SM...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
conclusion
Record data
Interpret data
Design and do exp.
Background info
Hypothesis
Identify problem
What is the third step of the SM...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
conclusion
Record data
Interpret data
Design and do exp.
Background info
Hypothesis
Identify problem
What is the 4th step of the SM...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
conclusion
Record data
Interpret data
Design and do exp.
Background info
Hypothesis
Identify problem
What is the 5th step of the SM...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
conclusion
Record data
Interpret data
Design and do exp.
Background info
Hypothesis
Identify problem
What is the 6th step of the SM...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
conclusion
Record data
Interpret data
Design and do exp.
Background info
Hypothesis
Identify problem
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
Class ACTIVITY:
Concepts Worksheet 1-3
Enrichment Worksheet 1-3
7 Steps of the Scientific Method
Homework:
INTERNET QUESTIONS
Worksheet 1-3 What is Scientific Method?
IMAGINE you are Galileo at
the leaning Tower of Pisa.
Your notice things fall to earth
because of gravity.
You hypothesize: That heavier
objects fall first.
You design an experiment:
You conduct observations:
You interpret your results
You state a conclusion:
LET TRY Galileo's
EXPERIMENT
Did your conclusion agree with
your hypothesis?
Is that OK?
LET Take a QUIZ!
LESSON REVIEW:
Click Mr. Z’s brother, for a lesson review!