Steps of the Scientific Method
What is the first step of the scientific method?
Ask a focus question
An educated guess in science is called…
Hypothesis
An experiment tests whether regular water or soda water will produce taller plants. What is the independent variable?
Different types of water
True or False: The scientific method can test whether aliens exist.
False, not testable
Which step of the scientific method comes first: Research or Hypothesis?
Research comes first!
The things that we keep the same in an experiment are called…
Controls
An experiment tests how light affects moths’ behavior. What is the dependent variable?
Moths’ behavior
A student asks a professional chef which type of flour they think works best in sponge cake before doing their experiment. What step of the scientific method is the student on?
Research
When we write hypotheses, what type of statement do we write?
“IF… THEN…” statements
What do we ALWAYS collect during an experiment?
Data
Write a hypothesis for the following focus question: Does ice cream melt faster in a cup or in a cone?
Example:
IF I get ice cream in a cone, THEN it will melt faster than if it were in a dish.
Someone claims listening to music makes plants grow faster. What part of the scientific method is this?
Hypothesis
What 3 parts are always required when writing conclusions?
Claim
Evidence
Reasoning
The variable that we measure is called the…
Dependent Variable
We want to test cookie recipes to see how different amounts of flour affect the taste. List 2 controls we should keep the same in our experiment.
Examples:
Amounts of other ingredients (sugar, egg, etc.)
Type of cookie
Cook time
Temperature
Upon an outbreak of a highly contagious disease, scientists tested vaccines in controlled trials. Which part of the scientific method does this represent?
Experiment
List the 5 steps of the scientific method in order.
Ask a question
Research
Hypothesis
Experiment
Conclusion
The variable that we change is called the…
Independent Variable
Create a focus question for an experiment that wants to test how different colors of light affect plant growth.
Specific: mentions specific colors
Testable: possible to test
Measurable: mentions what will be measured (plant height, etc.)
A YouTuber says wearing socks to bed makes you taller. What would be a potential hypothesis?
IF… THEN…