The Scientific Method

What is Science?

●Science is the study of
the natural world through
observations and
experiments.

●Scientists make
observations about the
world around them and
try to explain what they
see.

Why the Scientific
Method?

●The scientific method
helps scientists learn
about the world in a
careful way.

●It gives them a process to
follow to answer
questions.

●All scientists use the same
steps, so they can double
check each other's work.

●The steps allow scientists
to make observations
without bias or opinion.

Why the Scientific
Method?

●The method requires
experiments and data, not
just beliefs.

●Using the scientific method
means results are based
on provable facts, not
guesses.

●It helps build knowledge
that is true and reliable.

●The scientific method helps
science stay truthful and
accurate.

The Steps of the
Scientific Method

1.

Ask a question

2.

Make a hypothesis

3.

Test the hypothesis
through
experimentation

4.

Form Conclusions
(answers)

5.

Share
results

Ask a Question

●The first step of the
scientific method is
asking a question
about something you
observe in the world
around you.

●Examples: How do
plants grow? Why is
the sky blue?

Make a Hypothesis

●A hypothesis is your best
guess about what will
happen based on what
you already know.

●It is written like an if-then
statement.

●Example hypothesis: If
plants get sunlight, then
they will grow.

●The if part tells what you
will change or test.

●The then part tells what
you think will happen
because of that change.

Test the Hypothesis
with an Experiment

●Design an experiment to
test your hypothesis.
Observe and record data.

●Example: Grow plants
with sunlight vs. no
sunlight.

●Look at the data you
collected and see if it
supports your hypothesis
or does not support your
hypothesis.

Draw Conclusions

●Look back at your question
and hypothesis.

●Did the results match your
hypothesis or not?

●Summarize what your
experiment taught you about
your original question.

●If your hypothesis was right,
explain why.

●If your hypothesis was
wrong, explain why you think
the results were different.

●What new things did you
learn from the experiment?

●What new questions do you
have now?

Share Your Results

Scientists share their results with
others as part of the scientific
process. This allows other
scientists to keep learning from
each other.