Notes / Handouts:
The Scientific Method
Qualitative vs. Quantative
Scientific Method Quiz Study Guide
Standards:
KNOW:
Vocabulary
- Problem
- Hypothesis
- Observation
- Experiment
- Conclusion
DO:
You must be able to:
- Explain the process of scientific method.
- Design and conduct scientific investigations using the scientific method.
- Find relationships based on evidence and logical argument
Boat/Marble Experiment (PHEOC)
Problem: How many marbles will my boat be able to keep afloat?
Make a boat out of the aluminum foil you are given.
Make Hypothesis (How many marbles will your boat hold?)
Describe the Experiment
Gently float boat. Gently add 1 marble at a time to the boat until water enters the boat.
Record Observations.
Conclusion –include info about hypothesis and what you would do differently next time.
BrainPOP Scientific Method
Do you have a hunch about something but don’t know how to prove it? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will walk you through the steps of the scientific method, which can be used to design any kind of experiment! First, Tim will show you how to make observations and develop inferences based on them. Then, you’ll learn how to form a hypothesis, make a prediction, and design a test to see whether or not your prediction was correct. Finally, you’ll learn why it’s important for others to be able to repeat your experiment! You’ll also learn how hypotheses become theories, and why there’s really no such thing as a scientific fact! So don’t just take a wild guess -- use the scientific method and be sure!
BrainPOP Science Projects (sign-in required)
Want to take home the top prize at the science fair? Let Tim and Moby help as they introduce you to the secrets of a winning science project. In this BrainPOP movie, you’ll find out what resources you can use to find a project and what sort of questions you can ask. You’ll learn how to formulate a hypothesis and what to do with it. You’ll also review the scientific method, and you’ll find out what to do if your project doesn’t turn out the way you expected it to. Finally, Tim and Moby show you how to put your display together and teach you a few tips on creating the best-looking one you can. Who says science isn’t fun?
The Scientific Method Example (video)
This video provides a real-life example of the scientific method: testing hypotheses about which plants will grow most successfully on a green roof in Kentucky. At Bernheim Forest near Louisville, scientists have set up 12 roof grids at ground level. The roof grids are filled with three different kinds of growing media and planted with four different groups of plants to determine which plants and media would work best for the Visitor Center roof garden and other roof gardens in the region.