1. Scientific Method or Explanation In order to ask a question about the world around you, scientists need to get information. An organized plan for gathering and organizing this information is called a scientific method. In this class we will use this method but will use different terms. CERR – CLAIM, EVIDENCE, REASONING, REBUTTAL Can everyone really relax

2. Scientists, teachers, students and anyone in the world can come up with the first step which is a question or problem Where does hail come from? Hail Stone SizeSpeed Marble½ in35mph Penny¾ in40mph Quarter1 in45mph Golf Ball1 ¾ in64mph Softball4 ½ in103mph

3. STEP 1 – Come up with a problem or question Write this down in your composition notebook

4. The next step is to state your claim which answers the question or problem You may remember this as your hypothesis (you should have learned this in middle school, a hypothesis is an educated guess based on your past experiences) Claim- This needs to be in statement form and a complete sentence. Hail which is formed in clouds is a solid form of precipitation and is a ball of ice that falls from the sky.

5. STEP 2 – Make a claim about the question or problem Write this down in your composition book Remember a claim is a statement or conclusion that answers your problem or question, its your hypothesis

6. The next step is your evidence. This is all of your data you collect through your experiment You may remember this as your experiment where you record all of your data, graph, interpret, and make connections for the claim Evidence: Scientific data that supports your claim. Last weekend large pieces of ice came down from the sky, I went out and examined the ice. It was a bunch of little pieces that formed a ball.

7. Step 3 – Provide Evidence for the claim Write this down in your composition book Your data needs to be appropriate and sufficient to support the claim. This could be qualitative or quantitative observations, measurements and/or results

8. The next step is Reasoning which will connect the evidence to the claim You may remember this as your analysis and conclusion Reasoning: This shows why your data connects the evidence to the claim. Be sure to use common sense and appropriate scientific principals. The large pieces of ice form higher up in the cloud because thunderstorms push them up there. The higher up the colder the air, the rain freezes. Then as gravity takes over and it comes down it collects more rain drops and freezes to the ball making it much larger

9. Step 4 – Reasoning / Explanation Write this down in your composition book Tells us why the data counts as evidence by using scientific principals

10. The last step is the rebuttal which recognizes and describes other explanations You may have used this in your conclusion or needed to use it when your hypothesis (CLAIM) was incorrect or needed to be tested again Rebuttal: Provides counter evidence and reasoning for why the alternative explanation is not appropriate. Hail is an actual snow ball that comes down from the sky, how does this snow get packed up in the sky and where does it come from? Snow is not ice.

11. Step 5 - Rebuttal Write this down in your composition book Provides evidence for why this other explanation is not appropriate

12. Steps of the Scientific Method CERR Make an observation and state a problem or question that is testable Develop a claim to answer your question or problem Design an experiment, collect data and observations to provide evidence for the claim Organize your results through reasoning and tell why the data counts as evidence by using scientific principals Draw up a conclusion, analyze your data and state if your claim is correct or not. You may need to provide counter evidence and reasoning through a rebuttal for why the alternative explanation is not appropriate

13. A Real Life Situation using the scientific method The scientific method can also be used to solve many problems that you may have or to find out a question that you might want to inquire about.

14. Write this down in your Journal and keep track Examples: To find a date for the dance on Friday night To quit eating chocolate To quit smoking To get an A in Science To get a girlfriend or boyfriend by the end of the semester Step 1 P_____________ Q_____________ Explain each step Step 2 C_____________ Step 3 E_____________ Step 4 R_____________ Step 5 R_____________

15. Scientific Explanation Example How can I find a date for the homecoming dance next month? LETS DO THIS ONE TOGETHER!!!!!!!! Problem or Question- Write in your question Claim- answers your problem Evidence- data or observations Reasoning / Explanation- connects evidence to claim Rebuttal- describes alternative explanations Retest if needed and come up with new claim