1. Observing Like a Scientist?
How Do Scientists Make Progress in Understanding the natural world?

2. What does it mean to Observe?
There are two main types of observations.
Quantitative Observation
Qualitative Observation
Deals with a number or amount.
Example
There are 30 students in this class.
Deals with descriptions that cannot be expressed in numbers.
Example
This gym smells like sweat socks.

3. Name any Quatitative Observations from the short video
ARKIVE VIDEO
Name any Qualitative Observations from the short video.

4. The Study of Life…Inferring
How is Structure related to Function?
List some characteristics you see on this animal.
More on this animal
Based on your observations above, which of these items do you think it eats?

5. Past Observations from memory On the way to Las Vegas…
Describe the desert you see on the road trip to Vegas.
What lives in the desert?

6. Using your new skills… Is a Tumble Weed Alive?
Examine the real Tumble weed up close…what do you see?

7. Now…Observe like a scientist
With your neighbor…
Make a list of both types of observations
Choose any one living organism and list its characteristics. Infer
their functions based on their structure.

8. Activity: Observing up close.
Pick a paper labeled with an object from a jar.
“rock, insect, leaf, soil, stick, flower.”
Go outside with class to collect objects.
Using magnifying glasses, observe both quantitatively
and qualitatively. (be sure to measure your item)
Sketch and color item in your lab book.
Based on your evidence from observing, make inferences,
create a hypothesis.
Is it alive?
How does it support life?
How does it appear to survive in its environment?
What type of scientist would be concerned with your item?
Propose a way to test your hypothesis.

9. Different Fields of Science

10. Activity: Choose your Title
Choose a scientist title.
Research the title to find
What do they study?
What kind of technology or tools they use?
What kind of experience or training is required?
Where they would work?
If possible, what kind of money do they make?
What other sciences must they know?
Provide images
Any other important information?
Prepare a poster or short power point
presentation to share your findings with the class.
For additional job titles
Click image below

11. Example: Microbiologist
Expert in : Bacteria, Fungi & Viruses
Works in a lab or clean room, but also works in the field.
Studies many things, drinking water, food, forests and rivers, medicines, infectious diseases and even weapons of war just to name a few.
Investigates contamination, outbreaks
Must spend many years in school earning multiple degrees
Etc. , etc. …

12. Big Ideas in Life Science Themes of this class for the year…
Organisms are diverse, yet share similar characteristics
Groups of Organisms change over time
The structure and function of organisms are
complimentary
Organisms operate on the same physical principal as the
rest of the natural world.
Science encompasses many fields, we will examine how
science is applied.
We will learn how to think and see he world as a
scientist, & how to ask scientific questions.