Steps of the Scientific Method
The question that guides an experiment
What is a scientific question?
The variable(s) a scientist keeps the same in an experiment
What is a controlled variable?
True or false:
A procedure should be able to be followed and replicated by another scientist.
True
Sarah's favorite color
What is blue?
An educated guess
What is a hypothesis?
The variable a scientist measures to assess the impact of the independent variable
What is the dependent variable?
True or false:
A scientist can test the impact of a bunch of different variables all at the same time in the same experiment.
False
The school where Sarah went for college and grad school
What is Boston College?
The answer to a scientific question, based on data you collect
What is a conclusion?
The variable a scientist changes to test
What is the independent variable?
Presenting the results from your experiment/the answer to your scientific question with other scientists
What is sharing your conclusion?
The town where Sarah grew up
What is Hopkinton?
Using your five senses to record information about an object or experiment
What is an observation?
Identify at least one controlled variable:
Does a soccer ball travel further on natural grass or on turf?
Examples of acceptable responses:
Size of soccer ball
Force of kick
Material of soccer ball
Objective and free from opinion
What is an observation?
Sarah's age
What is 24?
The detailed plan of how to conduct an experiment
Identify both the independent and dependent variable:
How does the liquid used to "water" a plant impact plant growth?
Independent variable: type of liquid
Dependent variable: height of plant
Repeating an experiment to confirm the results
What are experiment trials?
The name of Sarah's other job at Walker (not teacher)
What is Education Coordinator?