Scientists want to learn more about the world. Some scientists want to find out how things work. Some want to find ways to make our lives easier. Scientists have invented many things that you use everyday.
Things like medicines, computers, and airplanes were invented using science.
Many things you use everyday were invented by scientists. The lights in your house, the car your parents drive, and the medicines you take when you are sick were invented by scientists.
How do scientists discover new information about the world?
How do scientists create new things?
They use a process called the "scientific method". A "method" is a process or series of steps that help someone do something. Scientists follow a series of steps to help them learn about the world.
The first step in the Scientific Method is observation.
Observation is when a person looks at something carefully.
Scientists look at things that happen in the world. Scientist observe the world.
Scientist write down their observations. A scientist who observes plants could write, "Plant A is tall. Plant A receives lots of sunlight and grows in moist soil ."
Step 2: Ask a question
After making an observation, a scientist will ask a question about what she observes.
The scientist who observes plants might ask, "What conditions help bean plants grow tall and healthy?"
Step 3: Form a Hypothesis
After a scientist thinks of a question, he will make a guess to try to answer the question. This is his hypothesis.
Our plant scientist asks, "What conditions help bean plants grow tall and healthy?"
He will then try to guess the answer to his question.
His guess is based on his observations and what he already knows about plants.
Our scientist observed that the tall bean plant received lots of sunlight. He formed a hypothesis based on this observation. He wrote "I think that bean plants will grow taller and healthier when they receive lots of sunlight."
But how will he know if he is right?
Step 4: Create an Experiment
How will our scientist know if his hypothesis is correct?
He will create an experiment.
An experiment is a way to test a hypothesis.
The scientist decides to use three plants in his experiment.
He puts Plant A next to the window. Plant A receives 8 hours of sunlight each day.
He puts Plant B next to the window for some of the day. Plant B receives 4 hours of sunlight each day.
He puts Plant C far from the window. Plant C receives no sunlight.
All plants receive the same amount of water. He plants all of them in the same type of soil. The only environmental condition that is different is the amount of sunlight the plants receive.
Step 5: Analyze your results and draw conclusions.
The scientist lets the plants grow for 3 weeks. Next, he looks at the plants to decide if his hypothesis was correct.
Remember, the scientist's hypothesis was "I think that bean plants will grow taller and healthier when they receive lots of sunlight."
The scientist concluded that bean plants grow taller and healthier when they receive 8 or more hours of sunlight.
Scientists use the information they learn to help people. They share the information with others.
You are going to create your own science project. You will use your knowledge if the Scientific Method to think of a question, form a hypothesis and create and experiment.
