Journal Question:
In the science
classes you have
taken throughout
your life, do you
accept what you
are taught to be
true/fact? Why
or why not?
Explain.
“Good science is good observation!”
What does that mean?
“It is when scientists observe something
they have never seen before that they can
begin to learn something new about how the
world works, and perhaps fix any flaws in
their old ideas.” Explain what this quote
means.
Pouring Water Demonstration
What will happen when you fill a cup
with water and then turn it over?
Why is it important for scientists
to REPEAT their experiments
many times over?
How do you collect data?
OBSERVATION
What type of data can you collect?
Quantitative
Data – numbers
(1,2,3,4…)
Qualitative
Data –
descriptive
words (smooth,
red, wrinkled…)
I, Robot Worksheet
I, Robot: Is Vivian Living?
YES
1.
Grow and Develop
2. Made of Cells
3. DNA
4. Metabolism
5. Reproduce
6. Respond to Env.
7. Homeostasis
8. Die
NO
How The Scientific Method Works:
Scientists use Controlled Experiments:
Experiments that use a control group and experimental
group
Everything about the control group and experimental
group(s) are identical, except the experimental group(s)
contains the variable, or factor being tested, while the
control group does not. Let’s look at an example.
Constants are components of the controlled experiment
that are kept the same in both the control and
experimental groups.
How The Scientific Method Works:
1. Observation  The bushes
in my yard don’t all grow at the
same rate
2. Question  Does the type
of light a plant receives affect
its growth?
3. Hypothesis  (def: testable
explanation)  If I expose
several plants to different
amounts of light, then they will
grow at different rates
How The Scientific Method Works (Con’t):
4. Test  (listed in steps) Expose several plants to different
amounts of light.
Must include the following things:
Independent Variable/Manipulated Variable? (thing you physically
Amount of light
change) __________
Dependent variable? Responding Variable (thing you measure)
Height of each plant over time
____________
Constants?
- Species of Plant
- Type of soil
- Amount of water
-Temperature
- height/condition that each plant starts in (seeds?)
Setup
How will ensure that all variables are eliminated but
one….hypothetical experiment is one thing, actually doing it is very
challenging
How The Scientific Method Works (Con’t):
5. Results: You must decide:
How often to collect data.
Using what instruments
How data will be collected?
Be consistent for all of these things
Data must be organized into charts, graphs, images, video, etc.
6. Conclusion
- Your conclusion must only be based on your results.
- Do the results support your hypothesis? If not, must do
further testing. Revise hypothesis and start again
- All controlled experiments must be repeated many times to
increase validity
How would you test whether or not
Lancermycin, a new drug, treats strep
throat?
Control group
Experimental Group
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Constants
Altoids Lab: Practice with the
Scientific Method
Let’s brainstorm some common things
that people claim: I’ll start us out.
1. Bulls get angry at the color red.
What you must include:
Scientific Question
Hypothesis (if/then format)
Test/experiment (details)
Control group
Experimental group
Constants
Manipulated variable
Responding variable
YOU NEED YOUR TEXT BOOK TODAY!
JQ: Squidward loves playing his clarinet and believes it attracts more
jellyfish than any other instrument he has played. In order to test his
hypothesis, Squidward played a song on his clarinet for a total of 5
minutes and counted the number of jellyfish he saw in his front yard.
He played the song a total of 3 times on his clarinet and repeated the
experiment using a flute and a guitar. He also recorded the number of
jellyfish he observed when he was not playing any instrument. The
results are shown in the chart below. Answer the following questions.
A. Write Squidward’s hypothesis in an “If, then” format
B. What is the Control Group?
C. What is the Experimental group(s)?
D. What is the manipulated variable?
E. What is the responding variable?
F. What can you conclude from the data? (hint: calculate averages)
JQ: A research lab at Rutgers wants to study
the effects of Red Bull on mice’s level of
physical activity. Answer the following
questions:
A. Describe a basic setup for your experiment
B.Write a hypothesis in an “If, then” format
C. What would the Control Group be?
D. What would the Experimental group be?
E. What is the Independent variable?
F. What is the Dependent variable?
G. Constants?
YOU NEED YOUR TEXT BOOK TODAY!
JQ: A research lab at Rutgers wants to study the
effects of a pesticide called Aramite on the ability of
tomato plants to produce tomatoes. The lab believes that
tomato production is being stunted, but the manufacturer
of Aramite claims it does not affect the plants.
A. Write a hypothesis in an “If, then” format
B. What would the Control Group be?
C. What would the Experimental group be?
D. What is the Independent variable?
E. What is the Depenedent variable?
F. Constants?
Today:
1. Review your practice
experiments
2. Altoids Lab
3. Design Your Own
Experiment (DYOE)
Discussion
4. Complete K’Nex Following
Directions
Homework: Complete Altoids
Lab and K’Nex
Following Directions Activity:
Why is it important to follow
directions?
Why is it important to define the world
around us using the same words?
Why is it important to be able to
communicate your thoughts through
writing?
Following Directions Activity:
1.As you build something with the K’nex,
create clear, detailed instructions for
how you are building it (as if you were
writing the instruction booklet)
2. Completely take apart what you have
made. Leave the instructions and K’nex
at your table.
3. Move to someone else’s lab table, and
try to build what they have described
4. Let’s define what to call each type of
piece.
JQ: Is an Avatar living or
non-living?