Scientific Method Review Mrs. Breeding 6 th Grade

Define the Problem  Ask a question you want to solve  It must be something that you can measure.

Example:  Patrick and SpongeBob love to blow bubbles! Patrick found some “Super Bubble Soap” at Walmart that claims to produce bubbles that are twice as big as regular bubbles. They decide to test this out!

Do Background Research  You can find information in the library, internet, books, magazines or you can ask other scientists.

Construct a Hypothesis (an educated guess)  State your hypothesis in a way that you can easily measure and in a way to help answer your original question.

Example  If SpongeBob and Patrick use “Super Bubble Soap” they will produce bubbles that are twice as big as bubbles made with regular bubble soap.

Experiment  You conduct a fair experiment/test by changing only one factor at a time; the independent variable with every other detail of the experiment controlled.

Independent Variable  The independent variable is the factor that you would change during your experiment. When you change your independent variables, you would also expect to see a change or a result in your dependent variable.

Dependent Variable  A dependent variable is what you measure in an experiment and what is affected during the experiment.

Controlled  In a valid experiment, everything is set up the same or controlled, so you know that if a change resulted it was caused by the independent variable.

Example  Patrick and SpongeBob made up two samples of bubble solution. One sample was made with 5 oz. of Super Bubble Soap and 5 oz. water. The other sample was made with the same amount of water and 5 oz. of regular bubble soap.  They blew 10 different bubbles using both bubble soaps. They measured the size of each bubble.

Observations  During your experiment you will gather and record your data. Tables and graphs work great when recording your data.

Conclusion  Explain the problem you were trying to solve.  Explain what actually happened in the experiment.  Answer the question in your problem and state whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect.  Give evidence/examples.  Mention other questions raised by your experiment and unexpected results.

Retest  Do it all over again!

Valid or Invalid Experiment?  SpongeBob notices that his pal Gary is suffering from slimotosis, which occurs when the shell develops a nasty slime and gives off a horrible odor. His friend Patrick tells him that rubbing seaweed on the shell is the perfect cure, however his friend Sandy says drinking Dr. Kelp will be a better cure. SpongeBob decides to test this cure by rubbing Gary with seaweed for one week and having him drink Dr. Kelp as well. After a week of treatment, the slime is gone and Gary’s shell smells better.  Is this a valid experiment?

No!!!!  Because he tried both claimed cures he can’t tell which one worked.  What would have been a better experiment?

Vocabulary  Hypothesis- An educated guess.  Independent Variable- The factor that you would change during your experiment. When you change your independent variables, you would expect to see a change or a result in your dependent variable.  Control- In a valid experiment, everything is set up the same or controlled.  Data- During your experiment you will gather and record your data. You will observe and record what you see.  Evidence- if evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, then the hypothesis can become accepted as a good explanation.