Scientific Method Review

Scientific Method Review:

What we've learned so far.

Let's take some time to go over some of the topics we've learned about so far this year.

How much do you remember? Put your knowledge to the test.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a component of the Scientific Method?

• Make predictions

• Conduct Research

• Test a Hypothesis

• State your Opinion

Open Ended

In your own words, explain the steps of the Scientific Method in 3-4 sentences.

Let's review. The steps of the Scientific Method are:

• Make an observation

• Ask a question

• Form a hypothesis

• Test your hypothesis

• Record data

• Share results

Open Ended

Let's practice. In typing class, Noah observes that he types more words per minute when there is music playing. He wonders if the music is helping the students focus, or if it's distracting. He decides to conduct a test where the 6th grade class types in silence for 20 minutes, and then listens to music for 20 minutes and compare how many words per minute they can type on average.

Identify the hypothesis in this scenario, and come up with a prediction.

Multiple Choice

The class types in silence for 20 minutes and they average 35 words per minute. Then they listen to music for 20 minutes and they average 38 words per minute.

What was the dependent variable in this experiment?

• The music

• Words typed per minute

• 20 minutes

Remember:

The independent variable is the one you are changing in an experiment. In this case, it was the music being played. The dependent variable depends on the independent variable. It is the variable that is being measured. In this example, it would be the words typed per minute.

Open Ended

Noah concludes that since the average typing speed was higher when the music was being played, that the music isn't distracting, and helps the students to focus.

According to the scientific method, what should be his next step?

There are lots of ways to share results.

It's important to share results. That way, other scientists can learn from your experiment, make their own hypothesis, or test the experiment for themselves. One way to display data is with charts and graphs. Let's review some different methods of data collecting and sharing.

Multiple Choice

Test your knowledge: Which of the following is a scatter plot graph?

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

Noah wants to make a graph that displays the information he collected during his experiment. Where should the independent variable (the music being played) go on his graph?

• x-axis

• y-axis

Remember:

The independent variable is the one being changed and belongs on the x-axis (across the bottom), and variable being measured- or the dependent variable- belongs on the y-axis.

Multiple Choice

In this scenario of music affecting words per minute typed, where should the words per minute data go on the graph?

• x-axis

• y-axis

That's all for now!

Take some time to look back over the notes you took on the Scientific Method at the beginning of the year.