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The Scientific Method seeks to explain our everyday observations
• When we Discover something new…
• Become curious and develop questions…
• Hypothesize a likely answer...
• Design an experiment and collect data….
• And make conclusions
Stop!!! Before beginning a new experiment it is wise to find out what is already known
You don’t want to “reinvent the wheel”
For K-12, teachers may choose to inform students about this background knowledge..
For example, we can learn about how Sabre-Tooth’s relatives hunt today
Background research helps to create a better hypothesis
Cheetahs pounce on GazelleLions jump on to elephant’s back
AND!!! We may discover similar animals lived during the era of Sabre-Tooth
Prehistoric ElkMegalocerus
The Wooly MammothMammuthus primigenius
The more background that we learn the better we can predict the outcome. We also create opportunities to engage student interests!!
Components of a good Hypothesis
1. An educated prediction based on observation
2. Prediction can be tested Data is feasible to obtain
3. Prediction is Specific Hypotheses are not vague
An example hypothesis for
Sabre-Tooths•The teeth of Sabre-Tooth were too long and delicate to break the bones of Wolly mammoth or Prehistoric Elk
Identify the test subject, what we will test, and what we will test it on.
Designing a model to test the hypothesis
We obviously don’t have sabre-toothed teeth or mammoth bones for our research, but we can build a model.
Designing an experiment for K-12 Scientists 1. Make a Materials List
For example, We Need….
1. A modeled Sabre-tooth2. A modeled mammoth and deer
bone3. A negative and positive control4. A way to repeat the experiment
Designing an experiment for K-12 Scientists
2. Be Creative, Be Simple
Simple models using wood and large screws or Paper Mache could be used to recreate Sabre-Tooth teeth. These teeth were 8 inches long and sharp!!
Find bones from Petsmart, or make them from paper mache.
Have students brainstorm ways to test their hypothesis
Designing an experiment for K-12 Scientists
2. Be Creative, Be Simple
Positive ControlHyena teeth model(known for crushing
bones)
Negative ControlWood with no teeth
Controls are needed to show the experiment worked correctly!
Designing an experiment for K-12 Scientists
2. Be Creative, Be Simple
Collecting Data in an Experiment3. Tables are useful for keeping track of data
Saber-tooth
Negative Control (No teeth)
Positive Control(Hyena Teeth)
Mammoth Bone Test 1
Mammoth Bone Test 2
Mammoth Bone Test 3
Deer Bone Test 1
Deer Bone Test 2
Deer Bone Test 3
Performing the Experiment4. Have fun
Have the students devise a consistent method to crush/break the bones using their model
Record data in tables and lab notebooks
Making Conclusions5. Interpeting the data
Analyze controls Positive control should break the bones. ▪ If it doesn’t perhaps model is too weak
Negative control should not break the bones▪ If it does perhaps model is too strong
Analyze experimental group
Sabre-tooth broke bones, broke bones sometimes, or did not
break bones.