SCIENCE Investigation and exploration of the natural world

SCIENCE Investigation and exploration of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation

Which one is doing science?

BOTH!

Scienti fic Method How scientists study the world & produce knowledge about it.

Hypothesis A possible explanation or prediction

An educated guess

Experimen t A scientific test or trial

Procedures Step by step instructions for conducting an experiment

Independent Variable The factor you want to test in the experiment. It is changed by the scientist.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE = amount of fertilizer

Dependent Variable The thing being observed or measured in the experiment

DEPENDENT VARIABLE = Height of plants

Constant Variable The parts of the experiment that you keep the same

CONSTANT VARIABLE = • • • type of plant amount of water amount of light

Observation Use your five senses to gather information

Inference A logical explanation drawn from prior knowledge or experience

2 1 3

DATA = measurements

Analyze Study or examine something very carefully

Conclusion A summary of what was learned from the experiment

Evidence Information obtained by experiments and observations

EVIDENCE = PROOF

Theory A generally accepted explanation of why, or how, something happens based on many observations and investigations

Flat Earth ? Round Earth!