Using the Scientific Method

 Ask a question!!  Make sure that your questions is “testable”  Ex: What will happen if I put an organic potato and a potato treated with “budnip” into a glass of water?  Ex: Will mixing vinegar and baking soda give the same result as mixing vinegar and baking powder?

 EX: Chlorpropham (commercial names: Bud Nip, Taterpex) is a plant growth regulator. It is used to slow or stop budding and sprouting in many food plants including potatoes.   -dicrotophos/chlorpropham-ext.html -dicrotophos/chlorpropham-ext.html 

 Make a hypothesis  A possible answer to your question  If… Then… because… format  Ex: If I put an organic potato and a potato treated with “budnip” into a glass of water, then the organic potato will sprout buds and roots while the other potato will not because it has been treated to prevent this from happening.

 Test your hypothesis! - Design an experiment  List materials needed  Ex:  Two glasses of water  Sunny windowsill  Organic potato  Potato treated with “budnip”.  Knife  Toothpicks

 List procedure  Step by step  Someone else must be able to copy it the same way and get the same result.  Ex:  1 Fill two glasses 3/4 with water.  Cut both potatoes in half.  Place Toothpicks in potatoes so that they can rest on top of glass with part of the potato submerged.  Place each in sunny windowsill.  Observe daily and record any changes in data table.

 Record and Analyze Data  Write down your observations  Organize into charts and graphs

Day 1Day 3Day 5Day 7Day 9 A – No Change B – No Change A - Buds B - Buds A- Roots/Size B – Roots/Size A – Stems – Size B – Stems - Size A – Leaves # B – Leaves #

 Come to a conclusion  Look at your data  Was your hypothesis correct  Explain why or why not

 Communicate  Make a backboard  Contains all steps  Contains pictures  Is attractive  Make a final report  Type all information and conclusion