🧪 Scientific Method
What is the first step of the scientific method?
Observation/Question
“The flower is yellow.” Is this qualitative or quantitative data?
Qualitative
What is the variable that the scientist changes on purpose?
Independent variable
What tool would you use to measure temperature?
Thermometer
What do we call using your five senses to gather information?
Observation
After asking a question, what should a scientist do before forming a hypothesis?
Research
“The plant grew 7 cm.” Is this qualitative or quantitative data?
Quantitative
What is the variable that the scientist observes or measures?
Dependent variable
What is the base unit used to measure length?
Meter
What is a logical interpretation based on observations?
Inference
What is an educated prediction about what you think will happen?
Hypothesis
Which type of data usually contains numbers or measurements?
Quantitative
What do we call all the things that are kept the same during an experiment?
Constants
What tool would be BEST for accurately measuring the volume of a liquid?
Graduated cylinder
You see dark clouds in the sky and say, “It is probably going to rain.” Is “It is probably going to rain” an observation or inference?
Inference
Put these in order: Experiment, Research, Hypothesis, Observation/Question.
Observation/Question → Research → Hypothesis → Experiment
A student says, “The liquid is clear and smells sweet.” What type of data did the student collect?
Qualitative
Maya changes the amount of sunlight plants receive and measures their growth. What is the independent variable?
Amount of sunlight
Match each measurement with its unit: Length, Mass, Volume → meter, gram, liter.
Length = meter; Mass = gram; Volume = liter
What is an experiment called when only one variable is changed and everything else remains the same?
Controlled experiment
Put ALL six steps in order: Results, Research, Conclusion, Experiment, Observation/Question, Hypothesis.
Observation/Question → Research → Hypothesis → Experiment → Results → Conclusion
A student writes, “The dog weighs 22 kg and has soft brown fur.” Identify the quantitative AND qualitative observations.
Quantitative = 22 kg; Qualitative = soft/brown fur
Maya changes the amount of sunlight plants receive and measures their growth. Name the dependent variable AND give one possible constant.
Dependent variable = plant growth; Constant could be amount of water, type of plant, soil, pot size, etc.
Match each tool with what it measures: balance scale, stopwatch, ruler, graduated cylinder.
Balance scale = mass; Stopwatch = time; Ruler = length; Graduated cylinder = volume
Sarah notices that the classroom lights are off and says, “Everyone must have gone home.” Identify the observation and the inference.
Observation = The lights are off.
Inference = Everyone must have gone home.