Slide 2 The Scientific Method Mrs. Kristi Walker 4 th Grade
Slide 3 The Scientific Method: At some point in time, you have
probably noticed something that made you wonder. Why does bread
grow white and blue mold? How do birds fly? When the astronauts
were on the moon they were able to bounce when they walked. Why
dont we bounce when we walk? You can use the steps to the
Scientific Method to help you figure out the answer to things that
make you wonder. Slide 4 What is the Scientific Method? The
Scientific Method is a process that is used to find answers to
questions about the world around us. 1. Ask a Question 2. Form a
Hypothesis 3. Set Up & Conduct an Experiment 4. Organize the
Data (Analysis) 5. Draw Conclusions Slide 5 The Scientific Method:
Is there only one? No, there are several versions of the scientific
method. Some versions have more steps, while others may have only a
few. However, they all begin with asking a question! Slide 6 Brain
Pop Video: Scientific Method Slide 7 Step 1: Ask a Question The
first thing you need to do is ask a question. The question sets the
purpose for your experiment. The question can be phrased anyway you
want as long as you can test it fairly. Scientific questions cannot
be opinions. Lets use bread mold as our example: Question: Does
Bread Mold Grow Faster in Warm or Cold Temperatures? Slide 8 Step
2: Form a Hypothesis The second thing you need to do is form a
hypothesis. A hypothesis is an educated guess that predicts the
outcome of an experiment. Remember this is not just a random guess,
make sure you read about the subject you are curious about before
you start on your experiment. Hypothesis: Bread mold grows faster
in warmer temperatures. Slide 9 Step 3: Set Up and Conduct an
Experiment An experiment is a series of steps that you will do to
test your hypothesis. Important: To make the experiment fair you
have to use the same type of materials for each part of the test.
Example: if my experiment is testing the growth of mold then I cant
use a piece of wheat bread and a piece of white bread for my
experiment because both of them could mold at different rates.
Slide 10 Step 3: Set Up and Conduct an Experiment One of your most
important parts of your experiment is the control. The control is
the part of the experiment that does not change! It is the item
that you compare everything else to. In this experiment, the bread
would be the control. It is the part of the experiment that will
not change. Slide 11 Step 3: Set Up and Conduct an Experiment
Another important part of your experiment is the variable. The
variable is the part of the experiment that changes. In this
experiment, the temperature would be the variable. It is the part
of the experiment that will change. Slide 12 Step 3: Set Up and
Conduct an Experiment Step 1: Place three pieces of bread in
plastic bags. Step 2: Place one plastic bag in the freezer. Step 3:
Place one plastic bag on the heater vent. Step 3: Place one plastic
bag on the counter at room temperature. Step 4: Check the bags of
bread every day and measure the size of the mold on them using a
ruler. Step 5: Record data in Science notebook. Step 6: Repeat
steps one through five for one week. Slide 13 Step 4: Organize the
Data As you observe what happens during your experiment, you will
need to write stuff down so that you dont forget what has happened.
This is called gathering data. In this experiment I would need to
record the amount of mold on each piece of bread every day. Be
consistent when you observe and record your data. For example,
check the bread the same time every day. Slide 14 Step 4: Sample
Data Day 1:Freezer: No mold Counter: No mold Heater: No mold Day 2:
Freezer: No mold Counter: No mold Heater: No mold Day 3: Freezer:
No mold Counter: No mold Heater: No mold Day 4: Freezer: No mold
Counter: 1 cm mold circle Heater: No mold Day 5: Freezer: No mold
Counter: 3 cm mold circle Heater: 1 cm mold circle Day 6: Freezer:
No mold Counter: 6 cm mold circle Heater: 1 cm mold circle Day 7:
Freezer: No mold Counter: 8 cm mold circle Heater: 1 cm mold circle
Slide 15 Step 4: Organize the Data Now that I have my data, I need
to do something with it. Use a graph, chart, or table to present
your findings. Slide 16 Step 5: Draw a Conclusion After you get
done studying your data you are ready to draw a conclusion. Drawing
a conclusion does not mean that you will draw a picture. Drawing a
conclusion means gathering your ideas to see if you were right and
comparing it to your hypothesis. A conclusion tells what you found
out and how you found it out. Slide 17 Step 5: Draw a Conclusion
Conclusion: My hypothesis said that I thought bread mold would grow
best in warmer temperatures. I was wrong. I found out that bread
mold doesnt like to grow where it too hot or too cold. It grows
best at room temperatures. I know this from my data. It showed no
growth on the bread in the freezer, a little on the one on the
heater vent an a lot of growth on the counter. I figured out that
the data was telling me that bread mold grows best at room
temperature. Slide 18 Lets Review: Scientific Method Steps Step 1:
Ask a Question Can be answered with a fair test Arent opinions Dont
have an obvious answer Step 2: Form a Hypothesis An educated guess
that answers the question Uses research Step 3: Set up and Conduct
an Experiment Use the same materials Record your data as you
conduct the experiment Step 4: Organize the Data Use a chart,
graph, or table Step 5: Draw Conclusions Use your Data to help draw
your conclusion Tells what you found out and how you found it
Includes a statement that accepts or rejects the hypothesis Slide
19 Music Makes It Memorable: Scientific Method Song Slide 20
Experiment Time! Lets practice the steps to the scientific method.
Slide 21 Application: Slide 22 Slide 23 Slide 24 Slide 25
