SCIENTIFIC METHOD  
•	an _______________ & _________________ approach to problem solving

STEP 1a 	___________________________________
•	By observing the world around you it is possible to see new things and begin to wonder how to _______________ the events that you see.

STEP 1 a 	___________________________________ 
•	develop a clear statement or question _________________ the problem from your observations
•	For Example:  Why are there worms on the sidewalks after it rains? 

STEP 1b           ___________________________________
•	learn all that is _____________________________ about your problem 
•	use any resource available to you (ie. books, magazines, experts, internet, etc)
•	make _____________________!!!  Note the characteristics of an object/situation

STEP 2                   ______________________________
•	Propose a ________________ to the problem based on available information
•	this is an ___________________________ or an inference
•	For Example: If rain turns into worms, then that’s why worms are on the sidewalk after it rains.

STEP 3              __________________________________
•	experiments are used to ____________ (____________________) a hypothesis 
•	experiments must be done and explained in a way that they may be __________________!!
•	experiments contain 2 parts:
•	_______________________________ - contains variable being tested 
•	_____________________ - same as experimental set-up w/out the variable

STEP 3 continued ________________________________
•	___________________ - a factor that can change in an experiment
•	Manipulated variable – the one factor that the scientist ______________ during an experiment (a.k.a. – independent variable).
•	Responding variable -  the factor (s) that may change in response to that manipulated variable (a.k.a. – dependent variable)

STEP 4                ______________________________________
•	information that is ________________ or ___________________ must be recorded -- this is data

•	observations require _____________________________________
•	measured data is most often recorded in __________________ & _____________
•	used to _______________/_______________ info

STEP 5                   _______________________________________
•	Can you make predictions based on the data and your hypothesis? 
•	Does the data support the hypothesis?
•	Does the data refute the hypothesis?
•	If so, do you need to change the hypothesis or throw it out and start over?
•	Does the answer to your problem present any new questions/problems?

STEP 6	___________________________________________
•	______________ enable others to review your work.
•	Examples:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Definitions:
	Scientific Theory – A well _________________ explanation_____________________________________
•	This is NOT a fact!  It has just not been proven wrong.  There is still the possibility it could be.
•	Examples:  Evolution, Relativity

Scientific Law - A ____________ describing a ____________ in __________________.  It happens ________________ time, all the _______________________. 
•	Examples:  Gravity, Thermodynamics, Motion