The Scientific Method! 

 
Definitions
WebQuest
 Classroom Examples
 The Helicopter Problem
Web Links
The Quiz

Scientific method- The basic steps used by scientist in solving problems and uncovering facts.

Steps in the Scientific Method
(PIHERC)

  1. State the PROBLEM. What question are you trying to find an answer to? The problem should be in the form of a questions.
  2. Gather INFORMATION about the problem. Look up information at the library or ask an expert. Think about the experiences that you have had that will help you find the answer.
  3. Form a HYPOTHESIS (an educated guess) based on the information that you gathered. (What do you think the answer to the problem might be? This is your possible answer.)
  4. Do an EXPERIMENT. In order to find the answer to a problem, scientists do an experiment. NOTE: only one thing at a time can be changed in anexperiment.
      5.  
      The Variable is the thing that is changed in an experiment. All of the groups are the same in the experiment except for this.

      Independent Variable- The variable you investigate to determine its effect. This is the thing that you change. Also called the Manipulated variable

         
      Dependent Variable- The variable you measure to see if the independent variable has any effect. This is the thing that changes in response to what you changed. Also called the Responding variable.
         
      Controlled Variables- Variables in the experiment that do not change. They are kept the same in every part of the experiment.
         
      The Control is the group in the experiment that does not have the variable. Not all experiment s have a control.
         
  5. RECORD the results that you got from your experiment. Collect DATA. Data is

    6. defined as recorded observations and measurements. Usually a chart or a graph
    is used to display data from an experiment.
  6. State your CONCLUSION. Your conclusion is based on the results of your data that you gathered about your experiment. Your conclusion tells you whether or not your hypothesis is right or wrong. If your hypothesis is right, go to step # 7 below. If your hypothesis was wrong, go back to step #3 above.
  7. RETEST. Make sure that your conclusion is correct by redoing the experiment.

Click on the Tennis Racket or the Tennis Ball

  Tennis Anyone? (A Webquest on the Scientific Method)

  Back to The Task
  Back to Step #3

Click On The Links Below For Classroom Examples.

Cattails

Chocolate

Sunflower Seeds

Metallica

It's Electric
 



 The Helicopter Problem

The Helicopter Problem



Sites From The Internet

Science Fair Projects and the Scientific Method

Think You Know The Scientific Method?....
Take The Quiz

The Scientific Method Quiz


 

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