Scientific Method Refresher

https://science-lab.wikispaces.com/Scientific+Method

Summary:

Since it's a new school year, we needed a refresher for our scientific method. Above you can see an image that shows the different steps. When you do this method, you have to make sure that you follow all of the steps correctly, and that is what I am going to be writing about. Do you ever see something and then ask yourself a question about it? If you do, then you should use the scientific method.

When you do a scientific method, you should not have to look around and have to make up a question that you already know the answer to such as "do dogs like meat?". You should do the scientific method when you have a question that you really want to know the answer to such as "how often does it rain in California?"

Next, you have to do background research with your senses:

1. eyes
2. ears
3. mouth
4. nose
5. touch or feel

To use your eyes, it is simple you just look around you, and make observations. To use your ears, you listen to what other people have to say, or listen if you have a question like "how often do cats meow?" To use your mouth, you speak with others, and ask them if they have any ideas. This also combines with using your ears. You use your nose if you have a question like "Do cookies always taste the same?" To use your hands to touch or feel, this is also for an exceptional question.

Once you have your question, and your observations, you need to form your hypothesis. You would do this by making an educated guess of what you think the answer to your question could be. An example could be something like "I don't think it rains often in California." This answer should not be obvious. 

Now you should make your hypothesis formal. When you do this, you should write why you think your hypothesis could be true. This would look something like "I don't think it rains often in California because we are in a drought." Another example that I found is "if leaf color change is related to temperature, then exposing plants to low temperatures will result in changes in leaf color." You also want to use the words if and then to formalize your hypothesis.

In conclusion, I hope you learned about the main points of the scientific method. As I already mentioned, doing every step of the process is really important. Enjoy the scientific method!

S&EP: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions:

I gathered information to explain facts about the scientific method as a refresher from the last school year. We had a graph with different questions, and we read through information to find out the answers. This is a good way to refresh your mind, and remember what the scientific method is again.