Education

What is the scientific method? Perdido fifth-graders know

Measuring the height of their plant and the length of its roots are Rayle Boyington, Brookley Pritchett, Kyleigh Macks

By GERRI MCDONALD
Special to Atmore News

The scientific method is a process for experimentation that is used to explore observations and answer questions. Does this mean all scientists follow exactly this process? No. Some areas of science can be more easily tested than others. But even when modified, the goal remains the same: to discover cause and effect relationships by asking questions, carefully gathering and examining the evidence, and seeing if all the available information can be combined in to a logical answer.

That is just what Perdido elementary fifth-graders in Mrs. Jill Jones’s classroom are doing. Their most recent experiment involved plants. They began the process with each group planting seeds into three different test tubes. Students were then given the task to test several variables on their plants: amount of water, water with food coloring and salt water. Each group of students kept a daily log of their observations; checking plant height, root length and any additional observations for each of their three plants.