1. Science Starter 8/24
Please take out the sheets we used for the Puzzle Activity (your drawing and the sheet with questions)
Finish your drawing quickly if you have to
What are three things you want to work on improving this school year? (academically or personally)

2. Scientific Method

3. What is science? Science is a tool.
Medicine: “I have high cholesterol, what should I do?”
Take cholesterol lowering medication.
Consult your horoscope
Hope for the best

4. The Scientific Method model test Observe an event and ask a question
Develop a model (or hypothesis) which makes a prediction.
Test the hypothesis.
Analyze the result.
Revise the hypothesis.
Repeat as needed.
Communicate Results
**A successful hypothesis becomes a
Scientific Theory.
model
test

5. Everyday Science Scientific Method Car Repair Observation
Engine won’t turn on.
Hypothesis (prediction)
Predict battery is dead.
Test
Replace battery.
Analyze result
Engine now turns on.
Revise hypothesis?
Not needed.
New test?
Scientific Theory
Cars won’t work without a fully charged battery.

6. 1. Observe and Ask a question
Finding the reason something is happening (e.g. why do the tadpoles have deformed limbs??)
Make observations—be accurate!
May also need to collect data
When you want to find out what causes something to happen
Make observations!!!!
Collect data if necessary

7. 2. Form a Hypothesis This is an educated guess!
May have more than one hypothesis per question
Make predictions
A hypothesis is just an educated guess/explanation!!!
You could have more than one hypothesis for your question
Make some predictions

8. 3. Test the Hypothesis Design and conduct an experiment:
Control group where no changes are made
Experimental group(s)
Only tests one hypothesis/factor at a time
Design an experiment
Must contain a control group—to see what happens without intervention from you!
Determine a variable/factor to test
Test your hypothesis, the levels for the variable can differ but no other variable can be tested at this time.

9. 4. Analyze results
Analyze your results and then decide if your hypothesis was true or false.

10. 5. Revise Hypothesis
If incorrect, reevaluate your hypothesis and try another one (do all steps over again with a different hypothesis).

11. 6. Repeat as Needed Start with a new hypothesis Re-test new hypothesis
Analyze results

12. 7. Communicate the Results
Tell other scientists about your results—both correct hypothesis and incorrect!
So other scientists can evaluate your results and add to your work with their own experiments.

14. HW
Devise a scientific test for some pseudoscience (astrology, tarot, etc).
What claim are you testing?
How will you test it?
Due Tuesday 16th.