Scientific Method

The Way Science Works

Essential Questions:

1)What are the steps that scientists take to solve problems?
2)Why can’t an experiment have more than one variable?

Standard: (insert standard here)

The Way Science Works

A.

In science, critical thinking skills are used to
solve problems.

B.

The scientific method organizes our thinking
about everyday questions

C.

The scientific method is often shown in a
series of steps:

Foldable
The Scientific Method

Problem

Gather Information
Form a Hypothesis
Perform Experiments

Record and Analyze Data

State a Conclusion
Repeat the Work

The Scientific Method

◼ A series of logical steps to follow in

order to solve problems.

Interactive Notebook

◼ Turn to a new page in your

INB.

◼ Divide into 3 columns. (Steps,

Definition/Example, Picture)

◼ As we move through the

lesson today, you will paste
the information into your
INB.

The Scientific Method

◼ Step 1: The Problem

▪Ask a question…What do you want to
know?

▪Ex. Does a flower grow taller in plain
water or fertilized water?

The Scientific Method

◼ Step 2: Gather information

▪Research

▪What is already known about your
topic?

▪Ex. Look on the internet to see what
fertilizer does to flowers.

The Scientific Method

◼ Step 3: Form a hypothesis

▪ Educated guess

▪ Propose an answer to your question based

on the research that you’ve done.

Ex. A flower will grow taller if
fertilizer is added to water.

The Scientific Method

◼ Step 4: Perform the Experiment

1.

Two groups:

a.

Experimental group: includes the variable
(what is changed in the experiment)

b.

Control group: exactly like experimental group
but does not contain the variable.

▪ Ex. Experimental group: the flower that

gets watered with the fertilizer.

▪ Ex. Control group: the flower that gets the

“normal” treatment (aka: plain water)

Plant

Amount of

Water

Amount of

Sun

Fertilizer

Type

Height after
two weeks

A

4 oz. every
three days

6hr/day
Eco-Tab
16cm

B

4 oz. every
three days

6hr/day
none
14cm

The Scientific Method

◼ Step 5: Record and Analyze Data

▪ Produce a chart, table or lab report based

on the findings in the experiment

The Scientific Method

◼ Step 6: State a conclusion

▪ Summary of what you found

▪ Tell whether hypothesis was proven/disproven

The Scientific Method

◼ Step 7: Repeat the work

▪ Be able to produce the same results over

and over again.

The Scientific Method Explained:

◼ Video Link:

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/sci
ence/scientific-inquiry/scientific-methods.htm