EQ: How Can I Think Like A Scientist

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EQ How Can I Think Like A Scientist?
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Why Do A Science Fair Project?

• Students use the Scientific Method to solve
  problems
• Students use an open and creative approach to
  problem solving
• Students sharpen their written and oral
  communication skills
• Students develop research skills
• Students learn time management and organizational
  skills

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Choose your topic

• I am interested in studying ______________________
  __________

skateboarding
sports?
weather?
animals?
plants?
Music sound?
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Research Question

• Does _____________
• affect___________?
• OR
• What is the effect of _______ on_________?
• This should be written as a cause and effect
  relationship.

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Research your topic

• Learn more about your topic from your science
  book, internet, encyclopedias and nonfiction
  books. Record new information in your Scientists
  Log

What science words or ideas can you think of
that relate to your question? Ramp, gravity,
forces, bridges, mountains, highways,
skateboards, friction
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Hypothesis

• A hypothesis
• is a statement
• that predicts
• what you
• think will most
• likely happen in your experiment.

If I then
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Hypothesis
If I increase the height of the ramp, then the
ball will roll a shorter distance. If I increase
the amount of air in the ball, then it will roll
a longer distance.
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Plan Your Experiment

• 1.) Think of a way to test your hypothesis. Then
  gather the materials you will need.

• 2.) Identify your variables.
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Constants

• 3.) Write the procedure you will follow
  step-by-step.

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Materials

• A list of items that will be used. Include size,
  quantity, and descriptions such that some one
  else could duplicate your project.

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Experiment Procedure

• Step-by step list of what you did (or how each
  item will be used) in your material list and the
  exact order in which it was done.

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Independent Variable

• The one thing (or object) you will change in the
  experiment

Like the height of the ramp
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What is the dependent variable?
How would you measure whether the independent
variable had an effect? What effect do you expect
to see?
Use metric units to measure your results
Does the height of a ramp affect the distance a
ball will roll?
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Control Variables or Constants

• List all the things (materials / procedures )
  that will remain constant to ensure a fair trial.
• What parts of your experiment will stay the same
  throughout?

changing the height of the ramp
Everything else needs to be constant
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Data Collection

• There should at least 3 or more trials of your
  experiment.
• Measure your results in metric measurements.
• Organize your measurements on a data table.
• Display your results on a bar or line graph.

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Conclusion

• Use the data and graphs (from the experiment) to
  explain what happened in the experiment.
• Did your independent variable affect your
  dependent variable? (if so explain how)

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Abstract

• An abstract is a summary of your project. It
  includes
• -The purpose of your project
• Your hypothesis
• Your procedures (what you did)
• Observations (what you saw)
• Conclusions (what you learned)

surface of ramp
size of ball
material ball is made from
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Sample Backboard
Project Title Procedure
Problem/Purpose Hypothesis Materials Abs
tract
Variables -Independent -Dependent -Consta
nts Conclusion Statement
Data /Charts and Graphs
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You Can Think Like
a Scientist!