MRS. SANDRA NOGUERA - SIXTH GRADE

Dear Students:
This information will help you determine your variables, create your hypothesis and begin working on your project.

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?


Scientific Method is the process of thinking through possible solutions to a problem and testing each possibility to find the best solution. It is the “tool” that scientists use to find answers to questions.

There are FIVE STEPS to follow the Scientific Method:

1. Observe and ask questions: Be curious, research and select a question to be answered by the experiment. How, What, When, Who, Which, Why, or Where?

2. Form a Hypothesis: A hypothesis is a statement that tells what will happen and why. It must be testable. “If __________ (I do this) __________, then________ (this) _________ will happen.”

3. Plan an Experiment: You have to test your hypothesis through an experiment. Think in the variables:

The independent variable is the variable you purposely manipulate (change).

The dependent variable is the variable that is being observed, which changes in response to the independent variable.

The controlled variable is the variable that do not change.


EXAMPLE: Under which conditions plants grow better: water, milk or orange juice?

* Independent Variable - Water, milk, orange juice

* Dependent variable - Water helps my plant grow

* Controlled Variable - Pot, plants, sun

4. Conduct an experiment: Carry out the experiment. Remember to record everything you do.

5. Drawing Conclusions and Communicate Results: The project conclusion is a summary of the results of the project experiments and a statement of how the results relate to the hypothesis. To complete your Science Fair Project you will communicate your results to others in a final report and the display board.