Scientific Method Project April 8, 2011

Due: Monday, May 9th

During the next four weeks students will conduct anexperimentusing the scientific method.

The scientific method includes:

  1. stating a problem or question,
  2. doing research,
  3. developing a hypothesis,
  4. designing and conducting an experiment,
  5. gathering data,
  6. organizing results,
  7. writing a conclusion.

More information about scientific experiments can be found in their science textbook on 522

Topic .

Topic chosen can be anything related to earth science such as subjects found in the science book. This a very broad topic.

Time:

This is daily science homework, so please spend 10 – 15 minutes each day during your experiment phase to gather data.This project will take the four weeks to complete. I would advise students to start it now!

Please take the time to go over the instructions so you can adequately plan for this project. .

Science Projects will be due on Monday, May 9th, 2011.

Most science projects will be displayed during Open House on May 12, 2011.

Project Product / Display of Results:

To present your project information you can:

  1. make a cube and each face displays one step of the scientific process(See Steps below). Cube must be between 1 ft square and 2 ft. square. No bigger or smaller.
  2. Powerpoint presentation with at least one slide for each step of the scientific process (Bring it on a jump drive or email to Ms. Kita, also print one copy of slides)
  3. Model orApparatus with scientific method information in report format.

Any materials, model or apparatusshould be included with the information display.

Scientific Process Steps to Display

  1. Problem / Purpose / Question
    State the problem you mean to solve or question you mean to answer.
  2. Hypothesis
    State your hypothesis
  3. Experiment Design / Procedures
    Explain the steps and/or procedures you did or model design
  4. Data Gather and Graphics or Pictures
    Display your data and pictures. Graphics are very effective for explaining
  5. Results
    What did you learn from your work and explain your data.
  6. Conclusion
    Was your hypothesis right or wrong? Can you make a new one?

Steps to Starting YourExperiment

1. Chose a Topic and Category

Ask yourself "What am I interested in?" or "What subject do I want to learn about?".

Examples: Example topics are solar electricity, minerals, erosion, planet rotation, atmosphere or gases, biosphere, solar electricity, biomass, soil PH, acid rain etc…..

2. Identify a Problem or Question

What questions do you have about your topic? What do you want to know?State the problem as a question:

In some cases you may want to research your topic before you identify an exact problem.Example Questions:

How does amount of water effect plant growth?

Can plants grow in acid rain?

Can solar panels supply electricity to anything?

3. Research the Problem and your Topic

What do you need to learn about so that you can solve your problem or answer your question? Where can you search for information?

Learn as much as you can about your topic and problem. Research can be from many different sources including people, books, magazines, the internet, or your own experience.

After you do your research you may want to restate your question in a better way.Examples:

Does the amount of food given to a certain plant effect the growth of that plant?

What is the effect of acidic water(rain) on the growth of a plant?

Can one size solar panel do the work of any batteries?

4. Develop a Hypothesis

Now that you have done your research, develop a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a prediction. What is your prediction of the answer to your question? What do you think will happen?

Guess at what the answer to your question will be. This is not a mystery. You have educated yourself on the topic and by now you should be able to make a guess at the answer based on your learning. This is also called an "Educated Guess". Examples of hypothesis statements:

I predict that a plant that does not get enough water will wilt, then begin to die.

My hypothesis is that plants watered with an acid solution will grow more slowly than a plant water with regular water.

I predict that the same one solar panel can be used to replace AA and C cell batteries but not D cell batteries.

5. Design the Experiments

How will you test your hypothesis? What tests will answer your question? You must conduct the test enough time or test enough samples to prove your point.

Define the constant. The one that does not change; such as the plant with regular water.

Define the variablesthat will change from one experiment to the next; such as plants watered with an acid solution. How acidic? How often water with acid solution?

Plan the tests you want to perform so that you have a good idea how much time you will need to complete them in the time allotted for your project. How long will you have to water and grow your plants to get good data?

6. Test your Hypothesis and Gather Data

Conduct your experiments to test your hypothesis. KEEP GOOD RECORDS! Be sure to write down in a journal your experiments so that you can analyze your results and present your data to others. You can collect your data in a journal or table.

7. Analyze the data and results

What do your results tell you? Look at your experimental data. Organize it. Do you see any trends or information that proves or disproves your hypothesis?

Graphs are a big help. Graphs not only help you understand your data but they will also help others to quicklyunderstand what you did.

8. Formulate and Report your Conclusions and make recommendations.

Was your hypothesis right or wrong? It is OK to be wrong. The objective of the scientific method is to investigate a problem and work toward a solution. Sometimes you will end an experiment and have new questions. If so, those new questions are part of your conclusions. Sometimes a conclusion proposes a new hypothesis and new experiments with recommendations for further study.

Even if you have disproved your hypothesis you have still done a good job if you correctly applied the scientific method.

9. Create Display of Experiment

Models or Research Apparatus
Did you create any models or experimental setups that are important in explaining your topics? Three dimensional objects and pictures are often more effective than words at communicating complex ideas. Find out from your teacher if it is appropriate for you to display models or apparatus and whether or not you can show them working

To present your project information you can:

make a cube and each face displays one step of the scientific process(See Steps below). Cube must be between 1 ft square and 2 ft. square. No bigger or smaller.

Powerpoint presentation with at least one slide for each step of the scientific process (Bring it on a jump drive or email to Ms. Kita, also print one copy of slides)

Model / Aparatus with scientific method information in report format.

Scientific Method Project Planning Sheet

1. Chose a Topic and Category

I am interested in :______
______

2. Identify a Problem or Question

My scientific problem or purpose is: ______
______

Question: Problem stated as a question:______
______

3. Research the Problem and your Topic

Take notes on your topic: ______

______

Restate or modified question:______
______

4. Develop a Hypothesis

My hypothesis is: :______
______

5. Design the Experiments

Define the constant. :______
______

Define the variables:______
______

Experiment Steps / Procedures: ______
______

______

Materials I will need: :______
______

6. Test your Hypothesis and Gather Data - KEEP GOOD RECORDS!

7. Analyze the data and results

8. Formulate and Report your Conclusions and make recommendations.

My hypothesis was correct / wrong because : :______
______

9. Create Display of Experiment

I will display my data in a (choose one)

______cube ______Powerpoint presentation ______model or Aparatus with scientific method information in report format.

.Online Resources:

Example of acid rain:

Earth Science Fair Projects: