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Set up your experiment and poster

How to run your experiment using the scientific method.


The scientific method is a way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments.

The steps of the scientific method are to:    

Ask a Question

Do Background Research

Construct a Hypothesis

(A hypothesis is an educated guess about how things work.)

Test Your Hypothesis by Doing an Experiment

(Collect data by writing down what you did and what happened.)

Analyze Your Data and Draw a Conclusion

Communicate Your Results

It is important for your experiment to be a fair test. A "fair test" occurs when you change only one factor (variable) and keep all other conditions the same.



Creating your Poster

When it comes time to communicate your results, you’ll use this posterboard. Here are some general guidelines for making an eye-catching report.

 Use some color.

 Put your question (like a title) centered at the top of your board. Don’t forget your

name!
                                                                       
 Let pictures, drawings and graphs tell the story.

 Put your data (picture, drawing, or graph) smack in the middle.

 Use the left side of your board to tell us about your materials and methods (the way you

conducted your experiment).

 Use the right side of your board to tell us what conclusions you made. Tell us about the books

or websites you researched. Is there something else you’d like to try?—tell us!

 Write your words in big letters. People have to read this from a distance.

 Your science experiment is a story like any other: give it a beginning, middle and end.

 Most importantly, this is your work. Use your individual style and creativity to make your poster as cool as you are