Life+Science+-+Scientific+Method


 * 1) I begin the lesson by reviewing the scientific process.
 * 2) Student's design an experiment to a question they have.
 * 3) They work through all the steps and write the experiment up in proper form.
 * 4) They present their work to the class.

(I model this whole process. I demonstrate an experiment and distribute my write-up so the students know what is expected. We also keep a list of questions we have throughout the year, so when it is time to do this project they already have generated a list of questions. This project works well with any age by simplifying the elements of the assignment.)

For example: The scientific method is a step-by-step approach that helps scientists find solutions to problems and explain things they don't understand. A scientist uses the same steps each time he wants to find an answer, no matter what type of problem it is.
 * Purpose - What do you want to learn?
 * Research - Find out as much about your topic as you can.
 * Hypothesis - Predict the answer to the problem.
 * Experiment - Design a test to confirm or disprove your hypothesis.
 * Analysis - Record what happened during the experiment.
 * Conclusion - Was your hypothesis correct?

//Purpose// All scientific approaches begin with a question such as, "What do I want to find out?" //Research// Research is critical to the scientific method. Find information in various materials to help you form a hypothesis and make a logical guess about the experiment's outcome. Without research, predicting the outcome of the experiment is impossible.
 * 1) Keep the problem statement specific and focused. General statements make it difficult to find answers.
 * 2) Rewrite your statement until it says exactly what you want it to say.
 * 3) When your statement is finished, be sure it makes sense and you can find enough research materials to answer your question.

//Hypothesis:// After you conduct thorough research, you can turn the problem into an answer to the original question based on the research that is gathered. You can say, "This is what I think will happen//."

ALL HYPOTHESES SHOULD INCLUDE THESE PARTS

1. The focus of the experiment 2. What's being measured 3. Conditions 4. Expected results Experiment// Test the hypothesis to see if it is correct. "What kind of test will I design to confirm what I think will happen? Include a list of materials needed, step-by-step procedures, the variable being tested, etc.

//Analysis: Analysis the data. Record your results. If the experiment took several days, look at your charts etc and see if you see any trends.

Conclusion:// At the conclusion of the experiment, you should ask, "What did I find out?" Here is a chance to tell what was learned from the experiment. The conclusion should be as brief as possible. The following questions should be considered:
 * 1) Did the results of the experiment confirm my prediction?
 * 2) Did the results deny my prediction?
 * 3) Are there any questions that remain unanswered?
 * 4) Are there any changes that could have been made?
 * 5) As a result of the experiment, are there any suggestions or new questions to test?
 * 6) Was this experiment important? Why or why not?