Scientific Method
Background Information & Activities

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The scientific method is a process that scientists use to ask questions and conduct investigations to find answers. It is important for your children to understand that the scientific method can also help them organize and plan their ideas and draw conclusions about the world around them. While the scientific method provides a standardized way for scientists to conduct their work, many scientists work according to other methodologies as well.

The first step of the scientific method is to ask a question. Scientists look at the world around them and pose questions. The second step is to form a hypothesis, or a prediction. Remind your children that when you predict, you use what you know to make an educated guess. Predictions draw from prior knowledge and experiences and children should connect and apply what they have learned.

After making a hypothesis, the next step is to plan an experiment. This entails writing down steps for an experiment that will answer the question. Remind students that good plans have short and clear steps. The plan should also include any materials that will be used in the experiment, including safety gear.

After scientists have gathered all the materials needed for the experiment, the next step is to do it! Remind students to pay careful attention to the experiment plan and follow it closely. As they conduct the experiment, scientists record data. Data is information gathered during the experiment. This can include observations and measurements. Recording data is an important part of the scientific method because it helps scientists organize their ideas and observations. Charts, graphs, lists, diagrams, and even sketches are all ways to record data during experiments.

After the completion of the experiment, the next step is to analyze the data and draw a conclusion. Scientists look at the information they gathered and observed and make connections to come to a conclusion. These conclusions may or may not be in agreement with their predictions. Remind students that scientists make incorrect predictions all the time, and an important part of the scientific process is to understand why predictions were incorrect. Many scientists will repeat an experiment several times to see if they can replicate the results before coming to a conclusion. This ensures that they have conducted the experiment the same way each time and make sure no introduced errors or outside factors affected the experiment’s outcome.

The last step of the scientific method is to share what you have learned. Scientists share information so that others can use the findings to pose different questions and conduct different experiments. Encourage your children that sharing information is an important part of working together. Many scientists will publish their findings in journals, magazines, books, or even present at conferences. After watching this movie and completing the features, your children may be ready to start their own projects! We recommend watching the Science Projects movie together to get them started.

Scientific Method Teacher Activities – Click Here!

Scientific Method Family Activities – Click Here!

Scientific Method Teacher Activities

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Science Handbook

Create a science handbook together. Review the steps of the scientific method and help students write the steps down. They may wish to illustrate their steps or decorate their pages. Discuss rules for behaving during a science experiment and stress the importance of following directions and working together. Then have students add information and rules about science safety, such as the importance of wearing gloves, goggles, and aprons. Students can gather their pages into a binder or if possible, they can put the pages in plastic sleeves so the handbook will be waterproof and protected during science experiments.

Science Demo

Model the scientific method by leading a science experiment using magnets. Explain that after watching the Scientific Method movie, students know that magnets can attract objects made with iron. Have students think of other questions they want to ask about magnets. For example, what can a magnet pull through? Write students’ questions on the board and choose one to investigate together. Have students write down hypotheses and together plan an experiment. Model writing a clear experiment plan, complete with easy, short steps and a list of materials needed to complete the experiment. Do the experiment together and have students record their data. Think about different ways to record data. Then analyze the data and draw a conclusion.

Step by Step

An important part of the scientific method is following directions. If scientists do not follow their experiment plans, their results can be inconclusive and inconsistent. Have students practice writing and following directions by writing a series of steps for their partners to follow. Directions can be for drawing a picture, getting a book from the bookshelves, walking to the cafeteria, etc. Students should write down the directions in clear, easy steps. Emphasize the importance of double-checking their work before giving the directions to their partners.

Scientific Method Family Activities

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Science at Home

There are plenty of opportunities to do science experiments at home. Together think of a question to ask, such as what dissolves in water, what floats or sinks, etc. Then come up with a hypothesis and an experiment plan. Have your child write the steps of the experiment and try it. Remember to record data during the experiment. Help your child come up with a conclusion and share your findings with family members.

Prediction in the Kitchen

A great way to teach science and spend time with your child is to cook with your child. Together, follow a recipe and stress the importance of following directions. What might happen if you skipped a step in the recipe? As you cook, have your child make predictions about what will happen when ingredients are combined and what the final product will look like. Your child can record data by writing down observations and measurements into a sensory detail chart.

Ad Awareness

Many commercials and advertisements make promises about a product. For example, a specific brand of toothpaste will whiten teeth after five days or a detergent will take out grass stains. Watch a few commercials together and have your child question a product and put it to the test. Use the scientific method to come up with an experiment and draw a conclusion. What is the best way to test if the product keeps its promise? Help your child write down an experiment plan, record data, and draw a conclusion. Share the findings with your family members. You and your child may also wish to make up a commercial discuss the findings. For example, if the detergent does not remove a grass stain, your child can write a commercial saying that the detergent does not work as promised and offer other solutions.