How Scientists Work Chapter 1 Lesson 1 Page
- Slides: 12
How Scientists Work Chapter 1 Lesson 1 Page 6
How Do Scientists Explore the Natural World? • What is Science? • Science -is a way of learning about the natural world, it is the knowledge gained by exploration and observation. • Science (in the dictionary)- systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
How Do Scientists Explore the Natural World? The BIG IDEA/ KEY CONCEPT • Scientists explore the natural world by using skills such as observing, classifying, making models, inferring, and predicting. They form and test their ideas through scientific investigation.
Observing • What is observing? • Observing- using one or more of your senses to gather information. • Observation also includes using tools to help enhance your senses • Two types of observation: • Quantitative observation • Qualitative Observation
Quantitative Observation • Quantity deals with what? Numbers! • Quantitative observation -deals with numbers or amounts • Give and example of a quantitative observation about the class.
Qualitative Observation • Quality deals with what? texture, type, everything but numbers! • Qualitative observation- deals with descriptions that cannot be expressed in numbers • Give an example of a qualitative observation about the class.
Organizing Data • Classifying- grouping together items that are alike in some way • Is there only one way to classify things? • Why is classifying items important to science research? • Classify the items on my desk.
Making Models • Making models involves creating representations of complex objects or processes. • Models help show things that cannot be observed directly • Models come in different forms: – 3 D m 0 odels of the actual item – Drawings – Mathematical equations
Inferring • Inferring- when you explain or interpret things that you observe • Inferring is NOT guessing!!!!!! • Inferences are based on reasoning from your prior knowledge and from what you observe
Predicting • Predicting- making a statement or claim about what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence • Predictions and inferences are related. • Which one is used to create your hypothesis?
Analyzing • Analyzing- evaluating observations and data to reach a conclusion • Taking all of your results comparing them to see if your results are consistent, inconsistent, slanted, etc. • Why is this step important in a scientific investigation?
Scientific investigation • Scientific investigation- the forming and testing of ideas about the natural world. • Scientists use all of the skills we just discussed to investigate any questions they may have about the natural world.