Used for upper elementary/middle school

2. What Is The Scientific
Method?
0The scientific method is a process used
to answer questions about the world
around us through the use of
observation and experimentation.
0This process is used in our everyday life
even if we don’t realize it!

3. What Is The First Of The
Scientific Method?
0The first step of the scientific method is
to identify a problem or question based
on observations that you have made.

4. What Is The Second Step Of
The Scientific Method?
0The second step of the scientific method
is to make a hypothesis.
0The hypothesis is a prediction (educated
guess) to answer your questions.

5. What Is The Third Step Of The
Scientific Method
0 The third step of the scientific method involves setting
up a detailed and step-by-step experiment that will
test your hypothesis.
0 It is very important that you design your experiment
so that it is reliable.
0 In order for your experiment to be considered
reliable, you must have the conditions the same way
each time you test and your measurements must be
consistent.

6. How Do I Ensure My
Experiment Is Reliable?
0 In order to make your experiment reliable, you can
only test one variable. A variable is the one thing that
you are changing/testing in your experiment. There
are 3 types of variables:
0 Control Variable-The variable that is held constant.
0 Dependent Variable- The variable that measures the
outcome.
0 Independent Variable- The variable that is being
changed or tested.

7. Observing During The
Experiment
0Observing is using your senses or
instruments to record data, making
notes of any changes occurring such as
color change, gas production etc.
0You want to make sure you use as much
detail as possible when describing your
observations.

8. What Is The Fourth Step Of
The Scientific Method
0 The fourth step of the scientific method is recording
and analyzing your data.
0 Data is the information gathered during your
experiment and it is usually put into a chart, table or
graph. There are 2 types of data based on your
observations:
0 Quantitative-Observations that are expressed in
numbers.
0 Qualitative-Observations that are more description
based such as smell, taste, texture etc.

9. What Is The Final Step Of The
Scientific Method?
0The final step of the scientific method is
to make a conclusion and communicate
your results. Focus on how the data you
collected supported or “busted” your
hypothesis.

10. Now Let’s Practice
0 I was making bread the other day and noticed that
when the bread came out of the oven it was flat. It
made me stop and reflect and realize that I don’t think
I put the yeast in the bowl as recipe required. Perfect
time to use the scientific method I figure. I came up
with the following question:
0Will bread rise without adding yeast?

11. Hypothesis
0I hypothesize that bread will not rise
without yeast.

12. Setting Up The Experiment
0 I have decided that I am going to make 2 loaves of
bread. The first loaf will be my control variable as I
will follow the recipe exactly.
0 The second loaf I will follow the recipe except I will
leave out the yeast (independent variable).
0When the bread is done I will take both loaves out at
the same time. I will measure the height of each of
bread from the bottom of the loaf to its highest point.
(dependent variable).

13. Data Analysis
0 Loaf 1 Qualitative data- light brown, firm, smooth,
high/risen
0 Loaf 1 Quantitative data- 7.5 inches high
0 Loaf 2 Qualitative data- light brown, bumpy, very
firm, flat/did not rise
0 Loaf 2 Quantitative data- 3 inches high

14. Conclusion
0 The data I collected during this experiment did indeed
support my hypothesis that bread will not rise
without yeast. Visibly loaf 1 was higher than loaf 2.
Loaf 1 also measured higher than loaf 2. Leaving out
the yeast did make a difference.