Becoming a Scientist Practicing with Skills and Tools

Questioning Being curious about the world.  Working with your group, come up with five questions about how long things take.  Use the timer to measure and find the answers to your questions.  Record your results.

Observing Using the senses to collect information.  Using all of your senses, carefully observe the mystery object. Use the magnifier to help get a closer view.  Record what you observe on the O-W-L chart.  List your wonderings on the O-W-L chart.  Open the envelope and read the article. Record what you learned on the O-W-L chart.

Measuring Determining length, volume, mass/weight, or time of objects or events by using instruments that measure these properties.  Working with your group, come up with 5 objects less than 1 foot in length to measure.  Use the ruler to measure each object to the nearest centimeter.  Record your results.

Classifying Sorting or ordering objects or ideas into groups or categories based on their properties.  Working with your group, sort the equations into groups. You may use the calculator to help you solve each equation.  Give each group of equations a name.  On your recording sheet, record the name of each group and tell what properties its members share.

Predicting Guessing what the outcome of an event will be based on observations and background knowledge of similar events.  For each set of objects, predict which has a greater mass.  Test your prediction using the balance.  Record your results.

Inferring Making statements based on observations and background knowledge of similar events.  Using the thermometer, measure the temperature of each sample of water.  Look at the pictures. Infer which water temperature could occur in each environment.  Record your results.

Communicating Using pictures, words, numbers, or models to describe an event, action, or object.  Use the computers to design a poster to communicate to other what you have learned about the work of a scientist.  Be prepared to share your work.

Now you are ready! Get busy, scientists!