The Scientific Method

The scientific method is a step-by-step way that scientists use to ask

questions, find answers, and solve problems. It helps them understand how
things work in the world. Let’s go through each step with an example to
make it easier to understand.
1. Observation
This is the first step. Scientists use their five senses—seeing, hearing,
smelling, touching, and sometimes tasting—to notice something interesting.
Example: You see that a plant near the window is growing faster than the one
in the corner of the room.
🔍 Observation: The plant with more sunlight grows faster.
2. Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a smart guess or prediction. After making an observation,
scientists think of a possible explanation. It must be something you can test.
Example: You think, “Maybe the plant near the window is growing faster
because it gets more sunlight.”
💡 Hypothesis: If a plant gets more sunlight, then it will grow faster.
3. Experiment
Now the scientist tests the hypothesis by doing an experiment. The
experiment must be fair and should test only one thing at a time.
Example: You place two plants:
• One near the window (lots of sunlight)
• One in a darker corner (less sunlight)
You water both the same and use the same type of plant and soil.
📋 This way, only sunlight is different.
4. Collect Data
During the experiment, scientists write down information or measure what
happens. This information is called data.
Example: You measure the height of both plants every 3 days.
Plant near the window grows 2 cm per week.
Plant in the corner grows only 1 cm per week.
5. Conclusion
After collecting and studying the data, scientists make a conclusion. This tells
whether the hypothesis was correct or not.
Example: You find that the plant near the window really did grow faster.
Conclusion: More sunlight helps plants grow better. Your hypothesis was
correct.
🔁 Can the Scientific Method Be Repeated?
Yes! If the conclusion is not clear or if the hypothesis was wrong, scientists
can repeat the experiment, change the conditions, or make a new
hypothesis.
🌱 Another Simple Example:
Problem:
Why did the ice melt faster on a metal plate than on a plastic plate?
• Observation: Ice melts faster on metal than on plastic.
• Hypothesis: Metal makes ice melt faster because it conducts
heat better.
• Experiment: Place the same size ice cubes on a metal plate and
plastic plate and observe.
• Collect Data: Measure time it takes for each to melt.
• Conclusion: Ice melts faster on metal because it absorbs and
transfers heat quickly.

🧪 Scientific Method Quiz

Directions:
A. Identification (1–10): Write the correct answer.
B. True or False (11–20): Write True if the statement is correct, and False if
not.
A. IDENTIFICATION (1–10)
Write the correct word for each question.
1. ___________ The first step in the scientific method.
2. ___________ A smart guess that can be tested.
3. ___________ A step where we test the hypothesis.
4. ___________ The information we collect during an experiment.
5. ___________ The last step where we explain what we learned.
6. ___________ A tool used to measure temperature.
7. ___________ A tool used to measure time.
8. ___________ The five things we use to observe (eyes, ears, nose,
etc.) are called _____.
9. ___________ A tool used to measure length.
10. ___________ The step where we look closely using our senses.

B. TRUE OR FALSE (11–20)

11. ______ Observation comes after conclusion.
12. ______ A hypothesis is a wild guess with no reason.
13. ______ We can use our eyes and ears to observe.
14. ______ An experiment tests if the hypothesis is correct.
15. ______ Data is collected after the experiment.
16. ______ Scientists use the scientific method to answer questions.
17. ______ We should test many things at the same time in an
experiment.
18. ______ A conclusion tells us what we learned.
19. ______ Plants grow better without sunlight.
20. ______ The scientific method helps us understand how things
work.
 Living and Nonliving Things

Everything we see around us can be grouped into two categories:

1. Living Things
Living things are things that are alive. They have certain characteristics that
help us know they are living. These include:
✅ They grow
✅ They move
✅ They eat or need food
✅ They breathe
✅ They can reproduce (have babies or new plants)
✅ They respond to their surroundings
📌 Examples of Living Things:
• Humans – We grow taller, eat food, breathe air, and can have
children.
• Dogs – They run, bark, eat dog food, and can have puppies.
• Trees – They grow from seeds, take in water and sunlight, and
make new seeds.
📌 Other Examples:
• Birds, fish, insects, flowers, grass, mushrooms (yes, fungi are
living!).
2. Nonliving Things
Nonliving things are things that are not alive. They do not grow, do not eat,
do not breathe, and cannot have babies.
Some nonliving things were never alive (like water, air, rocks), and some
used to be alive but are no longer living (like wooden furniture made from
trees, or paper made from plants).
📌 Examples of Nonliving Things:
• Water – It flows and can change form (ice, steam), but it doesn’t
grow or breathe.
 • Rocks – Hard objects found on the ground. They don’t move on
their own.
• Books – Made of paper, used for reading, but they don’t grow or
feel.
• Tables and chairs – Often made from wood but cannot grow or
change unless someone changes them.
Organisms and Habitats
A living thing is also called an organism. Every organism needs a place to
live that gives it food, water, and shelter. This place is called a habitat.
📌 Examples of Organisms and Their Habitats:
• A fish lives in water (pond, river, sea) — its habitat is aquatic.
• A lion lives in the grasslands or savanna — its habitat is land.
• A bird lives in trees or nests — its habitat is forest or sky.
• A cactus lives in the desert — its habitat is hot and dry.
Adaptations
Some living things have adaptations—special body parts or behaviors that
help them live in their environment.
📌 Examples of Adaptations:
• A camel has a hump to store fat so it can live without food or
water for a long time.
• A polar bear has thick fur and fat to stay warm in the cold.
• A chameleon can change color to hide from enemies.
• A duck has webbed feet to swim better in water.
🐾 Quiz Activity: Living and Nonliving Things
IDENTIFICATION (1–10)
1. ________________ What do we call things that are alive?
2. ________________ What do we call things that are not alive?
3. ________________ What do we call a living thing, like an animal or
plant?
4. ________________ What is the place where an organism lives?
5. ________________ What do we call a special feature that helps an
animal survive?
6. ________________ Which living thing grows from a seed and makes
new seeds?
7. ________________ Which nonliving thing is used for reading but
cannot grow or move?
8. ________________ Which animal changes its color to hide from
enemies?
9. ________________ Where does a fish live?
10. ________________ What body part helps a duck swim better?

TRUE OR FALSE (11–15)

11. _______ Living things can breathe, eat, and grow.
12. _______ A rock can grow and have babies.
13. _______ A cactus can live in cold snowy places.
14. _______ Polar bears have thick fur to keep them warm.
15. _______ Water is a living thing.
📘 Essay Writing Activity

Title: Understanding the World Around Us

✍️Instructions:

Write a short essay using the three topics we learned:

1. Living and Nonliving Things

2. Organisms and Their Habitats
3. Adaptations

Use complete sentences and organize your essay into three-five

sentences. Try to use examples from what we discussed. You can also add
your own examples!