The Scientific Method

To Educators,

As our 5th grade students begin to explore science, we need to provide them with support for creating proper and concise experiments.In this book we will discuss the scientific method and how we apply it to our lessons. The Scientific Method is used to guide research.A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is put to test with an experimented to prove or disprove it’s validity.

Objectives:

After this lesson students will be able to:

• Understand the scientific process through the scientific method.

•Understand key terms related to the Scientific Method.

•Relate the Scientific Method to an experiment.

What is the Scientific Method?

What are the differences between observations and inferences?

How to make a hypothesis?

Vocabulary:

Experiment: A test using observations and controlled variables to discover answers to questions, and/or to check a hypothesis.

Hypothesis: An educated guess about the outcome of an experiment based on evidence that is testable

Inference: A logical explanation or conclusion based on observations and/or facts.

Scientific Method: A process of critical thinking that uses observations and experiments to investigate testable predictions about the physical universe.

Observation: The data collected by using the five senses to learn about objects and events.

Review the steps:

1. Ask a question.
2. Gather information and observe (research)
3. Make a hypothesis (guess the answer)
4. Experiment and test your hypothesis.
5. Analyze your test results.
6. Modify your hypothesis, if necessary.
7. Present a conclusion.
8. Retest (often done by other scientists)

Discussion questions:

1. What is the first step in the scientific method?
2. What is a hypothesis?
3. What is an observation?
4. How do you make an inference?

Discussion questions/ follow up activity:

Students will be given the following question:

“What melts ice the fastest?”

Then they will plan and conduct an experiment using the scientific method steps.