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What Is the Scientific Method?

• The scientific method is a way scientists ask questions and find answers.
• It helps us do experiments and understand how things work.

The scientific method helps scientists guess answers without evidence.

false

Ask a Question

Step 1

• The first step is to notice something interesting or unusual and ask a question about it.

• This question should be something you’re curious about and want to find out about.
• For example:
• "Why do plants grow taller when they are in sunlight?“

• Asking a good question gives your experiment a purpose and helps guide your investigation.

Which of these is the first step in the scientific method?

• Doing an experiment
• Asking a question
• Making a guess

Asking a question

Do Background Research

Step 2

• After asking your question, find out what people already know about the topic.
• You can read books, watch videos, talk to experts, or search online.

• Doing background research helps you understand your topic better and gives you ideas for how to test your question.
• For example:
• "I read that sunlight helps plants make food, so maybe sunlight helps plants grow taller."
• Doing background research helps you understand your question better and plan your experiment.

Why do scientists do background research?

• To skip doing experiments
• To learn more about their question
• To guess the answer

To learn more about their question

Make a Hypothesis

Step 3

• A hypothesis is an educated guess about what you think will happen in your experiment.
• It’s like making a prediction based on what you already know.

• Your hypothesis should be clear and testable.
• Many hypotheses are written in an if-then statement.

• For example:
• "If a plant gets sunlight, then it will grow taller than a plant that doesn’t get sunlight."
• A good hypothesis is specific and testable.

A hypothesis is an educated guess about what will happen.

true

Plan and Do an Experiment

Step 4

• Now it’s time to test your hypothesis by doing an experiment.
• First, make a plan. Decide what you will change and what you will keep the same.
• For example: You might grow some plants in sunlight and some in shade.

• Then, you carry out your experiment to see what happens.
• Planning ahead helps make sure your test is fair and your results are accurate.

• For example:
• "I will grow two plants, one in sunlight and one in shade, to see which grows taller."
• Planning helps make sure your test is fair.

What is the purpose of an experiment?

• To prove your guess wrong
• To test your hypothesis
• To ask another question

To test your hypothesis

Collect Data

Step 5

• While you do your experiment, gather information about what happens.

• This could include measurements, observations, or even pictures.
• Write everything down carefully so you can remember and understand your results later.

• Collecting good data is an important part of the scientific method.
• For example:
• “I measured and recorded the plants' heights every day.”
• Collecting data is important because it shows what really happened.

Why do scientists collect data?

• To see if their hypothesis is correct
• To make the experiment longer
• To surprise everyone

To see if their hypothesis is correct

Analyze Results

Step 6

• After collecting your data, look at all the information carefully.

• Try to find patterns or trends.
• Did the plants in sunlight grow taller?
• Did your data support your hypothesis?

• Analyzing your results helps you understand what your experiment tells you about your question.
• For example:
• "The plant in sunlight grew 10 inches, but the one in shade grew only 3 inches. This shows that sunlight helped the plant grow taller."
• Analyzing helps you understand what your data means.

Analyzing results helps scientists understand what happened during the experiment.

true

Draw a Conclusion

Step 7

• Based on what you learned from your data, decide if your guess was right or wrong.

• Explain what happened and what it means.
• Sometimes, you might need to rethink your idea and try the experiment again.

• For example:
• "Since the plant in sunlight grew more than the one in shade, I conclude that sunlight promotes plant growth."
• Drawing a conclusion helps you understand the answer to your question.

What do scientists do after analyzing data?

• Draw a conclusion
• Ask a new question
• Aest another hypothesis right away

Draw a conclusion

Share Results

Step 8

• The last step is to tell others what you discovered.
• You might write a report, give a presentation, or make a poster.
• Sharing your results helps others learn from your work and might inspire new questions or experiments.

• Science is all about sharing what we find out!
• For example:
• "I shared my results with my class and explained how sunlight helps plants grow."
• Sharing helps others learn from your experiment and discover new questions.

Scientists tell others what they learned by writing reports, giving talks, or making posters.

Why is sharing results important?

• To help others learn what you found out
• To keep the information secret
• To change the experiment

To help others learn what you found out

What’s the Point of the Scientific Method?

• The scientific method helps us stay organized and find real answers.
• It’s also a fun way to discover new things!

Scientific Method Summary

Your Turn!

​

Think of a question you’re curious about.

What would be your first step in the scientific method?

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