1. Before we take notes: Grab your new composition books (one row at a time).
Open the front cover of your book and put today’s date: 8/17/2015.
Wait for further instructions.

3. Practical Uses
The scientific method isn’t just for scientists. It can be used in our daily lives to explain things or try to figure out problems.
What type of bait do fish prefer?
How do I improve my swing/kick/speed?
What is the best way to study?
What type of pizza do most people prefer?

4. Step 1: (Problem) State the Question
What are you trying to find out? What are you trying to achieve?
Maybe you saw something happen and you want to know the cause of what you observed.

5. Step 2: Research the Topic
What information is already available?
Do you already have some background knowledge on the subject?

6. Step 3: State Your Hypothesis
Make a prediction (educated guess) about what you think will happen in your experiment (based on research/prior knowledge)
Often written in “if…then” format
Ex: if a student studies daily, then test scores will improve

7. Step 4: Experiment Test your hypothesis. What Materials will you use?
Must include very clear, detailed instructions.
What procedure will
you follow? How
will you conduct the
experiment?

8. Step 5: (Data) Results
What happened? Include graphs when appropriate.

9. Step 6: Conclusion Explain your results Was your hypothesis correct?
Were there any errors?

10. Scientific Method Memory Trick:
Pets Run Home Escaping Dog Catcher!

11. (P)ets: Problem (Question)
(R)un: Research
(H)ome: Hypothesis
(E)scaping: Experiment
(D)og: Data (Results)
(C)atcher: Conclusion

12. Stop here. 

13. Elements of an Experiment
Control
Standard for comparison
The variable we don’t change
Ex: Sugar pill
Variable
What is being tested
Ex: New Medicine

15. Types of Variables
Manipulated variable: (independent) The variable that is changed/controlled by the experimenter.
Responding variable: (dependent) Variable affected by the manipulated variable.
Ex: In an experiment testing how amount of light affects plant growth, amount of light is the __________________ variable, plant growth is the ___________

16. Types of Variables
Manipulated variable: The variable that is changed/controlled by the experimenter.
Responding variable: Variable affected by the independent variable.
Ex: In an experiment testing how amount of light affects plant growth, amount of light is the _ manipulated_ _variable, plant growth is the _responding_
variable.

17. Step 7: RETEST!!!! Conduct the experiment again.
Were results real or an accident?
Do you need to change the experiment?

18. Important Scientific Terms

19. Theory vs. Law
Theory
An explanation that is supported by a wide range of evidence; subject to change.
Example: theory of natural selection
Law
Rule that describes a pattern in nature and what will happen under specific conditions.
Example: law of gravity

21. Fact vs. Inference Fact: statement that cannot be refuted.
Inference: a logical conclusion derived from observations.