2. SCIENCE INQUIRY SKILLS WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND HOW TO DO IT CORRECTLY

3. SCIENTIFIC METHOD The scientific method is an agreed upon set of steps to investigate questions. This process, if followed, helps ensure that the conclusions made are valid and will be accepted by others. This process is followed around the world by not only scientists but other disciplines as well.

4. Steps in Scientific Method Observation Develop a question Background research Prediction/Hypothesis Experimental Design Results: Data collection and display Conclusion: Analysis of data

5. Skills you need Distinguish between an Observation and an Inference. Construct a valid question. Background Research: 3 Questions/3 Answers. Correctly state a Prediction/Hypothesis. Create a valid Experimental Design. How to collect and present data. Make valid conclusions using data and present in 4 paragraphs.

6. OBSERVATIONS Information gathered using one or more of the 5 senses. Sight Smell Touch Taste Hearing

7. We observe using 1 or more of our five senses.

8. Two kinds of Observations 1. QUANTITATIVE  Observations that can be expressed as a number (quantity).  I see 2 birds There are 3 trucks on the road.

9. Two kinds of Observations 2. QUALITATIVE  Observations that describe qualities such as color, texture, taste, size, smell etc.  The book is brown.  The worm is pink and has glasses.

10. Inference A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence (your observations) and reasoning.

11. Observation vs. Inference An inference is an opinion based on what you observe but NOT directly observed. We can observe this dog is brown and white BUT we can only infer that he is riding in a car.

12. Make 1 quantitative, 1 qualitative and 1 inference for each picture.

14. CLASSIFICATION Classification is a way of organizing objects/things into groups based on ways that they are similar or related.

15. METRIC SYSTEM ENGLISH SYSTEM Many units based on Body parts. Standardized units Of measurement Used in USA Used in most Countries in the world Units divided by Powers of 10. Units based on Historical measure Developed in France in 1670

16. WHAT DO WE MEASURE? 1.Length: The distance from one point to another

17. WHAT DO WE MEASURE? 2. Volume: The amount of space an object takes up.

18. WHAT DO WE MEASURE? 3. Mass: the amount of matter in an object.

19. WHAT DO WE MEASURE? 4. Temperature: the amount of heat energy in an object.

20. Science Inquiry/ Scientific Method What is the point?? –We design science projects to answer questions that we are curious about from your observations!

21. Steps 1 & 2: Proper Question format: To do that, PWCS uses this specific format: “ What is the effect of ________________ fill in your: Independent Variable on _________________________?” fill in your: Dependent Variable

22. So…what are variables??? A variable is anything that can be changed. There are three (3) types of variables in a correctly designed experiment: 1) ONE Independent Variable (IV) 2) ONE Dependent Variable (DV) 3) Many Controlled Variable (Constant)

23. Let’s identify variables What variables can effect the sprouting of a bean seed? 1. 2. 3. 4.

24. INDEPENDENT VARIABLE Something in your experiment that you ON PURPOSE change. It’s the thing you are curious about and want to see what happens when you change it. You can only change one (1) thing (variable.) Independent variables answer the question "What did I change?"

25. DEPENDENT VARIABLE Something that will be affected as a result of the change you made with the independent variable. You will quantitatively observe and record the data. Dependent variables answer the question "What do I observe?"

26. CONTROLLED VARIABLES Controlled variables (constants) are all the things (variables) you COULD change, but you DON’T!! You will have many controlled variables Controlled variables answer the question "What do I keep the same?"

27. The “Control” vs“Controlled Variables (Constants)” Controlled Variable (aka constants) Control All the things you COULD change, but don’t. Designed to keep experiment valid. Helps you maintain only one I.V. Ex: Same plants, same amt of liquid, same soil, etc. One “level” of the Independent Variable You choose one of the levels you believe you know the outcome for. Ex: Watering plants = Independent variable Levels of IV: Milk Water Soda Control: X

28. Step 3: HYPOTHESIS You have your idea…now you…HYPOTHESIZE –Make a STATEMENT about what you think will happen in your experiment. The hypothesis reads just like a prediction IF I ___________(IV) ______________ THEN _____________(DV)__________.

29. Step 4: Design your experiment with an Experimental Design Diagram (EDD) A chart designed to help you design your experiment and keep track of your variables. A scientist always does 3 or more trials when conducting an experiment

30. Step 5: DATA Data is any information you gather through observations. Data can be collected qualitatively or quantitatively. When experimenting, data on your dependent variable needs to be collect quantitatively.

31. Data Can be communicated in three ways: Data table (t-chart) Graph Written form

32. Step 6: CONCLUSION Written in roughly 4 paragraphs: 1. Rewrite your (a) question, (b) hypothesis and (c) summary of experiment. 2. Summary of data collected. 3. Conclusion based on data and referring to data. **Did you support your hypothesis or not? 4. What errors you may have made and what you would change next time.

33. CLASSIFICATION Classification is a way of organizing objects/things into groups based on ways that they are similar or related.

34. MODELS Scientists often make models of ideas or things that are too large or too small to visualize. Scale Models: These models are made bigger or smaller in exact proportions of the real thing. That is they look like the real thing but are shrunk or blown up by some factor.