The Scientific Process

1. The Scientific Process EDU 529 David Bloom Valerie Hall Miranda Hicks Terri McElyea

2. What is The Scientific Process? • Develop a Hypothesis • Formulate prior to conducting experiment • Conduct the Experiment • Collect samples from sources • Analyze the Data • Identify data • Compare the Results • Share findings • Determine a Conclusion • Develop conclusions based on the results

3. The Scientific Process

4. Activity – What’s That Smell? • Objective • Smell and identify materials in film canisters • Materials • Film canister, cotton, various aromas (perfume, soap, onion, etc.), and plastic wrap • Procedure • Describe odor and identify • Evaluation • Written description of methods used to identify odors

5. Activity – Marsh Munchers • Objective • Identify predator and prey • Materials • Animal flash cards, plastic discs, and baggies • Procedure • Select 5 students to be predators and remainder are prey • Predators tag prey to get disc (food) • Predator becomes prey after collecting 10 discs • Evaluation • Observation and discussion

6. Activity – What’s In the Sock? • Objective • Touch and identify objects placed in sock • Materials • Various objects (marble, rock, etc.) • Procedure • Place object in sock • Predict what object is in sock • Touch sock to identify object • Evaluation • Q&A and Discussion

7. Grade Level Adaptations • Modifications • Increase / decrease difficulty • Extend / shorten time limits • Offer assistance and cooperative grouping • Peer teaching

8. Resources • Elementary Science Methods, Martin, David, 2003, Thompson and Wadsworth • http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~gaud/bio372/class/behavior/sciproc.htm • http://MarcoPolo-education.org • http://projectwet.org • http://projectwild.org