science process skills how to think and act like a scientist
TRANSCRIPT
Science Process Skills
How to think and act like a scientist
OBSERVING
• Using one or more of the senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or touching) to find out about objects and/or events.
• A fact learned directly through the senses; not an interpretation or explanation of what is observed.
• Can be enhanced by using instruments such as hand lenses or microscopes
• Two Types– Quantitative – measurements using numbers– Qualitative – measurements using descriptive
words
COMMUNICATING
• Giving or exchanging information from one person to another person (oral or written)– Making drawings, diagrams, pictures,
photographs, maps, symbols– Constructing tables, charts, graphs– Writing reports
*Until something is communicated, it isn’t learned!*
CLASSIFYING
• Begins with observing similarities and differences among objects and/or events in order to group things according to a scheme
ESTIMATING AND MEASURING
• Quantitative observations using standardized measuring tools or non-standardized measuring tools– Measurements may be about
• Area, length, volume, angle, temperature, time, force, mass, density, speed, etc.
– Standardized measuring tools:• Rulers, balances, graduated cylinders, protractors,
thermometers, stopwatches, etc.
– Non-standardized measuring tools:• Paper clips, cups, etc.
INFERRING
• Draw conclusions based on information that is NOT directly observed; based on past experiences
PREDICTING
• Are always based on prior knowledge gained through experiences or data that is collected
• NOT a wild guess – based on observations and inferences
• To predict accurately, you need to make careful observations and inferences about the relationships between observed events
• Predictions can be tested to determine their validity
DEFINING OPERATIONALLY
• Operational definition – definition of an object or event based on your experience with it
• A “doing definition”
MAKING MODELS
• Developing a physical or conceptual representation to explain an idea, object, or event– Physical models
• Can be made from clay, paper, boxes, straws, toothpicks, etc.
– Conceptual models• Can be diagram, cross-section, map,
formula, etc.
INVESTIGATION
• THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!!!!