1. Ask a Question: This begins with curiosity! It's about identifying a problem or a question you want to answer. The question should be testable – you should be able to design an experiment to find an answer. Examples: "Does the type of soil affect plant growth?" or "How does the angle of a ramp affect the speed of a toy car?"
2. Research: Before jumping into an experiment, you need background information. This could involve reading books, websites, or talking to experts. This helps you understand what's already known and helps refine your question.
3. Form a Hypothesis: This is an educated guess about the answer to your question. It's a prediction based on your research. A good hypothesis is testable and often written as an "If...then..." statement. Example: "If I plant seeds in different types of soil, then the plants in sandy soil will grow the shortest."
4. Design an Experiment: This is the plan for testing your hypothesis. It needs to include:
* Variables: Identifying the independent variable (what you change), the dependent variable (what you measure), and the controlled variables (what you keep the same). In the plant example, the type of soil is the independent variable, plant height is the dependent variable, and things like sunlight, water, and pot size are controlled variables.
* Materials: A list of everything you'll need.
* Procedure: A step-by-step guide of what you'll do. It should be clear and repeatable so others can follow it.
5. Conduct the Experiment: Carefully follow your procedure, making detailed observations and recording your data (measurements, notes, drawings).
6. Analyze the Data: Look for patterns and trends in your data. Create graphs or charts to visualize your results.
7. Draw a Conclusion: Based on your data analysis, decide whether your hypothesis was supported or refuted. Explain your reasoning. Even if your hypothesis wasn't supported, that's valuable information!
8. Communicate Your Results: Share your findings with others. This could be through a written report, a presentation, or a poster.
Important Considerations for Sixth Graders:
* Safety: Emphasize safety procedures when conducting experiments.
* Fair Test: Ensure the experiment is a fair test by controlling all variables except the independent variable.
* Repeatability: Encourage repeating the experiment to ensure the results are reliable.
* It's okay to be wrong: The scientific process is about learning, and that includes learning from mistakes and revising hypotheses.
This simplified process provides a foundation for understanding the scientific method. As students progress, the complexity and sophistication of their investigations will increase.