1. Science Process Skills
How to think and act like a scientist

2. 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

3. 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!*

4. CLASSIFYING
Begins with observing similarities and differences among objects and/or events in order to group things according to a scheme

5. 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.

6. INFERRING
Draw conclusions based on information that is NOT directly observed; based on past experiences

7. 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

8. DEFINING OPERATIONALLY
Operational definition – definition of an object or event based on your experience with it
A “doing definition”

9. 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.

10. INVESTIGATION
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!!!!