1. 6th Grade Science- Woodlawn Beach Middle School
Scientific method
6th Grade Science- Woodlawn Beach Middle School
The scientific method

2. What is the scientific method?
It’s an organized way to solve problems.
Organized using six main steps:
State Your Problem
Research
Hypothesize
Test Hypothesis through Experiments
Make Observations
Analyze Data
Draw Conclusions
Scientific method

3. Step One – state your problem
State the problem that you want to test in the form of a question.
Example – What type of paper towels are the most absorbent?
Problem

4. Step two – make a hypothesis
Another way to say hypothesis is inference.
Both words mean to “guess” or make an “educated guess”
Example – I believe that after experimenting that Bounty® Paper Towels will be the most absorbent brand of paper towels
hypothesis

5. Step three – make observations
Two Different Types of Observations
Quantitative: deals with numbers or amounts(height, weight or length)
Qualitative: deals with descriptions that cannot be expressed in numbers. (colors, smells)
N = NUMBER; These observations come with numbers or measurements. Like a temperature from a thermometer will give you a numbered reading.
Observations

6. The one variable that is purposely changed.
Independent variable
The one variable that is purposely changed.
Example: color of feeder

7. The factor that may change in response to the independent variable.
Example: number of times the hummingbird visits the feeder

8. experiment Step four – experiment
Testing the hypothesis through experimenting should be a controlled experiment.
A controlled experiment means that all of the INDEPENDENT variables are changed to affect the experiment (Like you always having to change your underwear);
Example – The amount of liquid, how long they get to absorb and the environment should all be the same; the only thing changing should be the type or brand of paper towels.
experiment

9. Step five – drawing conclusions
Determine whether or not the experimental results support your hypothesis.
If so, why?
If not, why and what happened for it not to support it?
Scientists use scientific models to show the results or test the hypothesis many times
Conclusions

10. three Major scientific models
Physical Models – Example: Rocket
Mathematical Models – Example: Punnett Square
Conceptual Models – Example: Animal Behaviors
Scientific models are often used to help explain scientific theories and make them easier to understand
Scientific models

11. Step six – scientific law
Scientific discoveries or conclusions then are tested multiple times (hundreds, thousands of times) until a theory is developed.
In order for a theory to become scientific law it must be thoroughly proven and agreed on universally.
Scientific law

12. Scientific method
And now you know everything there is to know about the scientific method! Woo!
Scientific method