Transcript The Scientific Method - Miami

Step 1: Choose a Topic.
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Get a notebook to record all information
collected for your project.
Do research to learn as much as you can
about the experiment topic.
Ask questions about your topic that you want
to answer and make sure you can observe
and measure data.
More research may be needed after you
decide what to investigate in your experiment.
Try the library and the internet.
Cite your sources in the Bibliography.
Internet Sources
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www.sciencebuddies.org
http://www.homeworkspot.com/sciencefair
www.scifair.org
http://sciencepage.org/scifair.htm
www.all-science-fairprojects.com/category0.html
http://clusty.com/search?input-form=clustysimple&v%3Asources=webplus&query=science
+fair+ideas
Step 2 Ask a Question
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Identify a question that
can be answered by
performing an experiment.
An experiment is a set of
steps you follow to test a
hypothesis.
This question will be the
Problem Statement.
Step 3: Make a Hypothesis
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Look at the Problem Statement and
identify the one factor that can be
tested. This is the manipulated or
independent variable.
Form an idea or educated
prediction that can be tested by an
experiment.
Write down your Hypothesis: “If ….
then (this) will happen.”
Step 4: Plan the Investigation
Identify and record the factors that can affect
the results of the experiment under Variables.
1. Manipulated (independent) variable or the
factor that is changed in the experiment.
(See previous Step 3.)
2. Controlled variables or all the factors
to be kept the same in the experiment.
3. Responding (dependent) variable or the data
to be collected during the experiment.
Step 4 Planning Continued
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Write your procedures or the steps you will
follow in your experiment.
Each procedure step needs to be numbered.
Each step needs to begin with a verb.
These procedures will insure that all variables
are kept the same (constant) or controlled
except the one you are testing.
Figure out and collect the materials needed for
the experiment.
Step 5: Collect, Organize, and
Display Data
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Start the experiment.
Observe and record the quantitative data
(numbers or measurements) collected
during the experiment on a data table.
Repeat the experiment three or more times
to confirm results.
Graph your data from all trials. (Dry Mix)
Display under Data.
Restate your data in a narrative form under
Results.
Step 6: Drawing Conclusions*
What was investigated? (Describe the problem
statement.)
 Restate your hypothesis, and tell if
it was supported(true) or not supported(false).
 What were the major findings? (Explain your
results.)
*Power Writing Connections Art of Scientific
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Conclusions
Step 7 Making Applications*
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What recommendations do you have for further
study and for improving the experiment?
Explain what you learned from your experiment
that could be applied in real life.
List any new questions that your experiment
lead you to ask that could be tested in a new
investigation.
*Using Power Writing.
Step 8 Abstract and Bibliography
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Describe your purpose and hypothesis.
Briefly describe your procedure.
Describe and explain your results and also
state if your hypothesis was supported or not by
the results. Give possible reasons.
Explain your conclusion.
List your bibliography of three or more sources.
Science Fair Project Template
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Each of the following slides are designed to
present a step in your science investigation
using the Scientific Method.
Write all your project information in the
corresponding slides.
Slide 9 between Data and Results contains an
Excel connection to create a bar graph.
You can use all, some, or replace the clip art.
Delete this slide after you complete your
presentation.
Problem Statement
Variables
Constant Variables:
Manipulated Variable:
Responding Variable:
Hypothesis:
Materials
Procedures
.
Data
Number of
Trial 1
Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
Results
Data from the three trials shows that the
Data from the three trials shows that the
Data from the three trials shows that the
Conclusion
The data my
trials,
hypothesis. In all three
Application
The project may have been improved
Abstract & Bibliography
Do You Get What You Pay For?
Mrs.Tweedy’s Grade 5 Students
Winston Park K – 8 Center
Problem Statement
Does tissue price affect the strength of the
tissue? Given three brands of tissue, Generic
(least), Kleenex, and Puffs (most), will the Puffs
have the most strength?
Variables
Constant Variables:
Same size marbles,
same measured amount
of water, same distance
water is poured, same
size of tissues, same
rubber bands, same
size containers,
following the same
procedures
Manipulated (Independent)
Variable:
The Brands of tissue –
Publix’s Generic,
Kleenex, and Puffs
Responding (Dependent)
Variable:
The number of marbles
held by each tissue and
their mass.
Hypothesis:
If Puffs are the most expensive,
then the Puffs will be the
strongest.
Materials:
Bag of 100 marbles
2 rulers
marker
3 pint containers Triple Beam Balance
50 mL water 3 rubber bands Sticky notes
Publix, Puffs, and Kleenex brand tissues
Procedures
1. Put a generic brand tissue on the top of the pint container. Put a
rubber band around it.
2. Measure 5 mL of water and pour on the tissue’s center from a height
of 15 cm.
3. Use care to place one marble at a time on top of the tissue.
4. Count how many marbles it takes to break the tissue and record on
the data table.
5. Measure the mass of the marbles and record on the data table.
6. Repeat steps 1. – 5. two more times.
7. Repeat steps 1. – 6. three more times with the Scotties brand of
tissue.
8. Repeat steps 1. – 6. three more times with the Kleenex brand of
tissue.
9. Find the average number of marbles and the average mass for the
three trials.
Data
Number of Marbles Tissues Held
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Tissue Brand
9
10
8
Generic (Public) 6
49
44
62
52
Puffs
10
14
14
13
Kleenex
More Data
Mass of Marbles Tissue Held in Grams
Tissue Brand
Generic (Publix’s)
Puffs
Kleenex
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
33 g
50 g
55 g
46 g
270 g
242 g
341 g
284 g
55 g
77 g
77 g
70 g
Mass of Marbles Tissue Held in Grams
350
300
250
200
Generic
Kleenex
Puffs
150
100
50
0
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Average
Results
Data from the three trials shows that the
generic tissue held an average of 8 marbles
with a mass of 46 grams. The Puffs tissue
held an average of 52 marbles with a mass
of 284 grams. The Kleenex tissue held an
average of 13 marbles with a mass of 70
grams.
Conclusion
This project investigated the different costs for tissue and
its effect on the tissue quality of having more strength in
holding marbles. It was hypothesized that if the Puffs
tissues are the most expensive then they are the
strongest and will hold the most marbles. The data
supports the hypothesis. In all three trials Puffs tissue
held the most marbles. Puffs held an average of 52
marbles, which was 39 more marbles than the average
13 that Kleenex held, and was 44 marbles more than the
Publix brand’s average of 8 marbles. The average mass
of the marbles that the Puffs held was 284 grams. This
was 214 more grams than the Kleenex’s mass of 70
gram and 238 more grams than the Publix’s 46 grams.
Human error may have affected the results of the
investigation. This includes the amount of water
being measured accurately and / or poured from
different heights, marbles being dropped instead of
being placed, and wet marbles being used. This
experiment could be improved by trying to correct
the errors mentioned above. This investigation
could be repeated using more or less water or with
a container that had a larger diameter.
Application
From this experiment one learned that the price of tissue
does affect its quality of strength in holding marbles. Paying
more for the Puffs tissue does pay off. You need to use at
least six Publix tissues for one Puffs’ tissue for the same
tissue strength. Since six boxes of Publix tissue at $1.50
each is $9.00, you are actually spending more for the Publix
since it takes six boxes of tissue in strength to equal the
strength of one box of Puffs. There is less than one cent
difference in price per tissue between the Kleenex and the
Puffs, but the Puffs tissue showed it is more than three times
stronger in the mass of marbles it can hold when compared to
the Kleenex. A new question to investigate might be does
price affect the strength of paper towels.
Bibliography
1. http://www.emilypost.com/newsroom/releases/puffs.pdf
2. http://www.kleenex.com?USA/Home.aspx?sectionID=&s=
3. Cooney, Timothy, Scott Foresman Science Gr. 2, 2007,
p. 420- 421, Pearson Education, Inc.