Sixth grade Science - Scientific Method

Sixth Grade Science - Scientific method

Sixth graders will need to understand the scientific method. What is the scientific method, you ask? Well, it is a tool to help students recognize, understand, and solve a problem. It is a method to help answer questions in an organized fashion. Often at this grade level the basic steps are: recognizing a problem or issue, asking how the problem can be solved, researching to see how others may have solved that problem or similar problems, suggesting a possible solution to the problem, laying out a method by which to test that solution, collecting data, and organizing that data into a form that helps the student and others understand the outcome of the experiment. You might also see the scientific method described as a way of setting up an experiment. Much like graphing in math, the scientific method is a way for sixth graders to learn to think critically, and enhance their problem solving abilities, without overwhelming them with too much information. The ability to think critically, and to problem solve will be used in many other subject besides math and science. A good foundation in the understanding of the scientific method will help your sixth grader excel as she encounters more advanced material.