1. Unit 1: The Nature of Science
Mrs. Morgan
8th Grade

2. The Big Idea
Scientist use careful observations and clear reasoning to understand processes and patterns in nature.

3. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Is Science?
Science- systematic study of natural events and conditions.
Scientia- knowledge
In general, all scientific subjects can be broken down into three areas—life science, Earth science, and physical science.
Life science, or biology, is the study of living things.
Earth science, or geology, is the study of the surface and interior of Earth.
Physical science includes physics and chemistry, which involve the study of nonliving matter and energy.
All branches of science have some characteristics in common.
The study of science requires openness and review. Whatever information one scientist collects, others must be able to see and comment upon.
All scientific ideas must be testable and reproducible.

4. Scientific ideas must be testable and reproducible!
Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Is Science
Scientific ideas must be testable and reproducible!
Empirical evidence- includes observations and measurements. It includes the data people gather and test to evaluate scientific explanations.
Scientific evidence must be open for all to observe. It must be measurable and not just one person’s opinion or guess.
The scientist may use specialized tools to make observations and take measurements.
A scientific explanation provides a description of how a process in nature occurs.
Scientific explanations are based on observations and data.
Beliefs or opinions that are not based on explanations that can be tested are not scientific.
Scientists may start developing an explanation by examining all of the empirical evidence they have.
Then they think logically about how all this evidence fits together.
The explanation they propose must fit all the available evidence.
Often, other scientists evaluate the explanation by testing it for themselves.
The additional observations and tests may provide data that further support the explanation.
If the results do not support the explanation, the explanation is rejected or modified and retested.
First, look at your empirical evidence. Think of all the evidence you could gather to support the explanation.
Second, consider if the explanation is logical, and whether it contradicts any other evidence.
Third, identify tests you can do to support your ideas.
Finally, evaluate the explanation.
Scientists are logical. They use evidence and careful reasoning to develop explanations.
Scientists are skeptical. They do not immediately accept claims, but they ask questions and evaluate the claims.
Scientists are objective. They set aside their personal feelings, moods, and beliefs when evaluating something.
AH—Look at this!

5. “Space Aliens Built the Pyramids”
Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Is Science
“Space Aliens Built the Pyramids”
Pseudoscience-belief or practice that is based on incorrectly applied scientific methods.
Pseudoscience can seem like real science, but pseudoscientific ideas are based on faulty logic and are supported by claims that can’t be tested.
Both science and pseudoscience often involve topics related to the natural world.
Pseudoscientific claims can sound logical. Pseudoscience uses technical language or scientific-sounding terms.
Both science and pseudoscience claim to be supported by empirical evidence.
Unlike science, pseudoscience does not use accepted scientific methods.
The evidence supporting pseudoscientific claims may be vague or lack any measurements.
Some pseudoscientific claims are not testable, and others are supported only by personal experiences.
Pseudoscientists may claim that results not proven false must be true. This is faulty logic.
Scientists must offer evidence for their conclusions. In contrast, pseudoscientists ask skeptics to prove their claims false.

6. Observation- process of obtaining information by using the senses.
Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Investigations
Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3
What are some parts that make up
scientific investigations?
Experiment -an organized procedure to study something under controlled conditions.
Observation- process of obtaining information by using the senses.
Scientists investigate the natural world through experiments and observations.
Scientific investigations may also involve the use of models.
A model is a representation of an object or a system.
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7. (qualitative and quanitative)
Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Investigations
Hypothesis - a testable idea or explanation that leads to scientific investigation.
Data- information gathered by observation or experimentation that can be used in calculating or reasoning.
(qualitative and quanitative)
Variable- any factor that can change in a scientific investigation.
A scientist may think of a hypothesis after making observations or after reading findings from other scientists’ investigations.
Hypotheses must be carefully constructed so they can be tested in a practical and meaningful way.
If an investigation does not support a hypothesis, it is still useful.
The information from the investigation can help scientists form a better hypothesis.
Scientists may go through many cycles of testing and analysis before they arrive at a hypothesis that is supported.

8. Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Investigations
Independent variable- the factor that is deliberately manipulated (changed).
This is the thing that you decide to change.
For example: Investigating how a weight affects the length of an elastic band.
You decide the weight to apply, so:
Weight is the independent variable.

9. Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Investigations
Dependent variable- changes as a result of manipulation (the changing) of one or more independent variables.
Investigating how a weight affects the length of an elastic band.
This is the variable that changes as a result. It is the variable that you measure.
You measure the resulting length of the elastic band, so:
Length is the dependent variable.

10. Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Investigations
Control variables- all the variables that must not change, to make sure it is a fair test
Investigating how a weight affects the length of an elastic band.
You must use the same elastic band all the time, and the same scale etc, so it is a fair test.

11. Perform the experiment
Unit 1 Lesson 2 Scientific Investigations
Many Methods
What are some scientific methods?
Scientists do not always use the same steps or same order of steps in every investigation.
They may even repeat some steps. But for the most part these are the parts of the Scientific Method.
State the Problem
Gather information
Form a hypothesis
Perform the experiment
Analyze data
Draw conclusions
Repeat
Open your workbooks to page 20, and do 8 Diagram.
Then on page 23 do 10 Identify.
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12. Theory- an explanation supported by a large amount of evidence.
Unit 1 Lesson 3 Scientific Knowledge
Theory- an explanation supported by a large amount of evidence.
Theories are what most scientists agree to be the best explanations based upon what we now know.
Scientific law - a description of a specific relationship under given conditions in the natural world.
They hold anywhere in the universe. You can’t escape them.
Scientific knowledge is constantly changing.
Many things that people consider scientific “facts” are actually the most widely accepted explanations.
What we learn in science are what most scientists agree are the best explanations about how things happen. They are theories scientists have about the world.
The words law and theory have specific meanings in science.
A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation of nature.
Scientific theories are supported by many pieces of evidence.
Theories help us understand and explain the laws we observe.
Scientific laws describe the way the world works. They hold anywhere in the universe.

13. Science and Technology
Unit 1 Lesson 4 Science and Society
Science and Technology
Many possibilities exist do to science.
Using Science to advance technology-
Scientists use their knowledge of fission to create nuclear reactors to create electricity in Arco.
Using Technology to advance science-
Development of the microscope helped advance scientific knowledge in areas such as atoms, bacteria and other microorganisms.
Scientific findings affect the way we think and how we see ourselves.
Advances in science affect the way we live our lives.
We now have new technologies in areas such as sanitation, environmental protection, medicine, transportation, weather forecasting, agriculture, and communication.
People who contribute to science come from all backgrounds, fields of interest, and skill groups.
Scientists are curious and creative, and they enjoy solving problems.
Scientists do research to answer questions and to investigate and challenge prevailing ideas.
People in many fields contribute to science.
The number of men and women who get paid to do scientific research is not very high.
Science is used in many occupations, including medicine, dentistry, architecture, forensics, and automotive engineering.
Anyone can think and act like a scientist and do science.
Even impossible questions need to be asked. A lot of what we take for granted today was once thought impossible.