Scientific Inquiry is a process used to investigate a problem or question

1. Make Observations Quantitative Observations- Numbers or quantities Example? Qualitative Observations- Descriptions or qualities Example?

2. Ask a Question What do you wonder about your observations? Good questions are: -Testable -Measurable -Safe

2. Ask a Question Closed Questions -Can be answered with just a yes or a no -Example “do rabbits like carrots?”

2. Ask a Question Open Questions -Require an explanation and cannot be answered yes or no or in a few words. -Example “How do lop rabbits absorb nutrients from carrots?”

3. Do Background Research Use references such as books or the internet Make more observations Do a mini-experiment Interview an expert

4. Form a Hypothesis A possible explanation to a scientific question. - An educated guess. -Must be testable!!!!!

Checkpoint Come up with one closed and one open question Why must a hypothesis be testable?

5. Design an Experiment Variables -Things that are changed in an experiment -Examples? Controlled experiment -An experiment that only changes (manipulates) one variable at at time.

Manipulated Variable What YOU change Also called independent variable The CAUSE

Responding Variable What YOU measure Also called dependent variable The Effect

Controlled Variables What YOU keep the same

Control Group In a scientific experiment, the control is the group that serves as the standard of comparison. The “normal” Nothing is manipulated

Experimental Group The same as the control group, except for the variable being tested.

Checkpoint What are the manipulated, responding, and controlled variable? Checkpoint What are the manipulated, responding, and controlled variable? “ If more sugar is added, then the bread will rise higher.”

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data a)Procedure: – A step by step record of what you did during the experiment – Must be written so that anyone could repeat your experiment exactly!

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data b)Data: – The facts, figures, evidence from the experiment c)Data table: – An orderly way to record the data – Design your table before collecting data Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 Row 4

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data Columns – Have a column for row labels – Have a column for your control group – Have a column for each experimental group

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data Columns – Have a column for row labels – Have a column for your control group – Have a column for each experimental group

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data Rows – Have a row for your responding variable – Have a row for your column headings – Have a row for each time you repeat the experiment (trials) or each occasion you make an observation Height of Plant (cm) Time (days) Control Group (No Fertilizer) Experimental Group 1 (Fertilizer A) Experimental Group 2 (Fertilizer B) Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data Rows – Have a row for your responding variable – Have a row for your column headings – Have a row for each time you repeat the experiment (trials) or each occasion you make an observation Height of Pancake (cm) Trial Control Group (Standard Recipe with 7g sugar) Experimental Group 1 (14g sugar) Experimental Group 2 (21g sugar) 1 2 3

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data Title – Effect of (manipulated variable) on (responding variable) Effect of Fertilizer on Plant Height

6. Perform Experiment and Collect Data Title – Effect of (manipulated variable) on (responding variable) Effect of Sugar on Pancake Height

7. Analyze Results – Interpret the data to figure out patterns or trends – Use a graph to analyze the data

8. Draw Conclusions – Summarize what you have learned – Does the data support or refute the hypothesis? – Did you collect enough data? – Were there any errors in the experiment? – What would you do differently next time?

9. Communicate Results – Share the results with others