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Prime Time:. On a clean sheet of paper with today’s heading on it, explain how you decide what to wear. (What factors do you consider when choosing an outfit?). I. Scientific Method:. A. A logical way to solve problems and the basis of scientific research/discovery.
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Prime Time: • On a clean sheet of paper with today’s heading on it, explain how you decide what to wear. (What factors do you consider when choosing an outfit?)
I. Scientific Method: • A. A logical way to solve problems and the basis of scientific research/discovery.
B. Steps of the Scientific Method: • State the problem • Form a Testable Hypothesis • Design an Experiment • Collect and Analyze Data • Draw conclusions • Communicate Results
1. State the problem • a. Making an observation about something you cannot explain. • EX: There are no birds at my bird feeder but there are birds at my neighbor’s bird feeder.
b. Gather information by observations you make in the lab and field. • EX: My bird feeder is short and wide. My neighbor's feeder is tall and narrow.
2. Form a Testable Hypothesis • a. Hypothesis: a prediction that can be tested. • EX: I predict that the birds don’t like the shape of my feeder.
3. Design an Experiment • a. Control: the standard to which the outcome of a test is compared. • b. Variable: something in an experiment that can change. • c. You design an experiment to test your hypothesis. • EX: My control is my feeder that I am already using. I will keep my old feeder in the tree, but also hang a tall narrow feeder next to it.
4. Collect & Analyze Data: • a. Data: the facts, figures and other evidence gathered through observations. • EX: Birds come my tall narrow feeder for the first three days, but not to my short and wide feeder. My control is still my short and wide feeder.
5. Draw conclusions • a. Conclusion: a summary of what you have learned from an experiment. • b. Did the data support the hypothesis? • c. Did you gather enough data? • d. Then you either accept or reject the hypothesis. • e. If you accept then you repeat experiment many times.
6. Communicate Results • a. You share the information with the people who need to know.
C. Vocabulary: • Theory: a well tested explanation of something that occurs. • It is NOT a guess or someone’s opinions. • Law: a rule describing a consistent pattern in Nature. It happens every time all the time.