Scientific Method Guide – Activity #1
Name: ________________________________________
Date: ___________________ Group: __________
Instructions: Choose a problem or question you want to solve. Then, follow each step of the scientific
method, as discussed in class, to solve it. Complete each part of this document as a guide for your
research. Document everything with photos and videos. For the last step, you must prepare a video
(with images of the procedure) or a presentation (PPT or board) that shows and explains the entire
procedure and conclusion.
1. Observation
Describe what you notice about a phenomenon or situation. Use your senses and be specific. Write
your observation:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
2. Problem or Question
Formulate a clear and precise question that can be investigated through an experiment. My question is:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
3. Hypothesis
Make an informed prediction about the answer to your question. Use the format: 'If... then... because...'
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
4. Research
Investigate prior information about your topic in books, on the internet, or through interviews. Write
down relevant data.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
5. Experiment
Design an experiment to test your hypothesis.
Independent variable (what you change): __________________________
Dependent variable (what you measure): __________________________
Control variables (what you keep the same):
1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
Step-by-step procedure:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
6. Data Analysis
Record the results of your experiment in a table:
Trial Independent Variable Dependent Variable Observations
7. Conclusion
Indicate whether your hypothesis was correct or incorrect. Explain why, based on the data.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
8. Communication of Results
Summarize your experiment and results clearly to share with the class or in a written report.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
Title: ____________________________________________
Y-axis: ____________________________________________
X-axis: ____________________________________________