The scientific method…Is a logical, organized way to conduct an experiment.

While the scientific method is necessary in developing knowledge, it is also useful in everyday problem-solving.

Like any good scientist, you may 1. question what could be wrong,2. apply what you know and can

do to fix that problem3. determine if what you changed

actually fixed the problem.

There are 7 stepsto the

Scientific Method

Step 1: Make ObservationsLook all around you. Think about how or why things work

or don’t work. Read about nature and science; Wonder about how living things interact with each other and with their environment; basic items you might use at home each day

Step 2: Ask a QuestionWhat is it that your are trying to

find out from your experiment?

The question that you select for your project is the cornerstone of your project.

Step 3: Research Your TopicResearch is the process of

collecting information from knowledgeable sources. This research helps you to understand the topic you have chosen, propose a hypothesis or educated guess, and design an experiment.

Step 4: State Your HypothesisThis is an educated guess about

what you think will happen in your experiment or a statement based on your research and observations.

Write the hypothesis in a single statement.

Step 5: Design an ExperimentDevelop a procedure for testing

your hypothesis by changing the independent variable and measuring the change it has on the dependent variable. Controlled variables must remain the same throughout the experiment.

Understanding VariablesQuestion: Does fertilizer make a plant grow larger?

The Independent Variable is the one that is changed by the scientist.

The Dependent Variable changes in response to the change the scientist makes to the independent variable.

The Controlled Variable will always be the same. [The same type of plant, soil, and pot

are purchased at the same store; and the amount of water and sunlight are the same for each plant]

Step 6: Conduct an ExperimentCarefully follow the procedure

you designed for testing your hypothesis.

Keep track of your data in a journal. (time/date/result)

Step 7: Analyze Your Results

Did you get the results you had expected?

What did you find out from your experiment?

Think about the best way to show this information. Should I make a chart or graph? … a bar graph, a line graph, a pie chart or a list?

Science Fair ProjectEvaluation Checklist