Science Skills
Take a good look at the picture Are there cars parked on the sides of the road? Yes What colour is the pickup truck driving in the road? Blue Any minivans around? What’s the speed limit? 35 (mph???) Can you park on the side of the road in front of the speed limit sign? No Are there any pedestrians?
Observation – use one or more of the 5 senses to gather information (noting and recording facts) Ex. There is one tv in the room Inferences – logical interpretation based upon prior knowledge and experience (based upon observations) Ex. You most likely inferred that the individual in the front of the room is a teacher. In a lab experiment you record observations and may use inferences when writing the conclusion in you lab report.
State whether the statement is an observation (O) or an inference (I) There is a representation of a face on one side of the coin. Observation 2. The Latin word "Dei" means "God.“ So the coin was made by deeply religious people. Inference 4. The date 1722 is printed on one side of the coin. 5. Assume that it is dated 1722. The coin was made in 1722. 6. The face on the coin is a representation of the nation's president.
O.W.I. OBSERVE - What do you notice? WONDER - What are you wondering? INFER - What inferences can you make?
Experiments Why scientists conduct experiments…. To make observations in a controlled setting. Experiments allow scientists to control all the factors to test only one factor at a time. Key parts should every experiment have… Purpose or Question - Provides a reason for doing the experiment, or poses a question that the investigation will answer. Variables - Factors that can change the outcome of an experiment. Independent Variable (Experimental Variable): the factor that you purposely change. Dependent Variable: factor that is being observed. Controlled Variables: the factors that are not changed and remain the same throughout experimentation. Procedure - A detailed step by step recipe for how to carry out the experiment. Observations - Usually involves a written description of all the events that took place during and after the experiment. Can be qualitative or quantitative in nature. Qualitative properties: properties that are observed and can not be measured. Quantitative properties: properties that can be measured numerically. Conclusions - Involves a written explanation for the results of the experiment. Relates to what you observed and the results you obtained. Answers the original problem/purpose.