1. Observations and Variables

2. Science has many branches.
What is Science?
Science has many branches.
Biological science is the science of living things.
Physical science is the science of matter and energy.
Earth science is the science of the Earth, the atmosphere, and weather.
Science is the knowledge obtained by observing natural events and conditions in order to discover facts and formulate laws or principles that can be verified or tested.

3. OBSERVATION =
Using your senses to gather information (facts) about your universe.
Two Types
QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS: tell about quality: shape, color, size (no numbers), odor, location.
QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATIONS: includes a measurement (always a number, but NOT all numbers…)

4. Qualitative Opinion Qualitative Quantitative Qualitative
Observation Examples
The whiteboard is rectangular.
The whiteboard is long.
The whiteboard is longer than the desk.
The whiteboard is 4.3 meters long.
The whiteboard is in room 152.
Qualitative
Opinion
Qualitative
Quantitative
Qualitative

5. Forming a Hypothesis
HYPOTHESIS: a testable prediction (an educated guess)
A hypothesis is a possible answer to a question based on observations that can be tested.
***Uses the information researched to help form the hypothesis****

6. Testing the Hypothesis
EXPERIMENT: Doing something to test the hypothesis. Must be repeatable and have…
Controlled Variables:
things that a scientist wants to remain constant
Independent Variable:
the one that is changed by the scientist. In an experiment there is only one independent variable.
Dependent Variable:
the one that changes because of the change in the independent variable.

7. Find the Variables How fast does a candle burn? Time (minutes)
Question
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Controlled Variables
How fast does a candle burn?
Time (minutes)
Height of candle (centimeters)
1. Use same type of candle for every test.
2. Wind: make sure there is none.
Does a certain fertilizer make a plant grow bigger?
Amount of fertilizer (grams)
Growth of the plant measured by its height OR
Growth of the plant measured by the number of leaves
1. Same plants
2. Same soil
3. Same size pot
4.Same amount of water, light
5. Make measurements at same time

8. Opinions and Inferences
NOT part of the scientific method. We try to avoid them!
OPINION: what you think about something.
INFERENCE: making a judgment based on circumstantial evidence instead of on direct observation.
Examples…
1) The teacher poured water into the beaker.
2) The teacher poured a clear liquid into the beaker.

9. For the picture, write at least 2 observations and 2 inferences:

10. Exit Ticket (#1-4)

11. Which of the following is an example of a qualitative observation. A
Which of the following is an example of a qualitative observation? A. Mrs. Bentley is full of energy in the mornings, she must drink a lot of coffee. B. Mrs. Bentley is too energetic in the mornings C. Mrs. Bentley’s thermos is purple and silver. D. Mrs. Bentley’s coffee thermos can hold 24 oz. of liquid.

12. 2. Which of the following is an example of an opinion. A. Mrs
2. Which of the following is an example of an opinion? A. Mrs. Bentley is full of energy in the mornings, she must drink a lot of coffee. B. Mrs. Bentley is too energetic in the mornings C. Mrs. Bentley drinks coffee out of an insulated purple thermos. D. Mrs. Bentley’s coffee thermos can hold 24 oz. of liquid.

13. 3. Which of the following is an example of a quantitative observation
3. Which of the following is an example of a quantitative observation? A. Mrs. Bentley is full of energy in the mornings, she must drink a lot of coffee. B. Mrs. Bentley is too energetic in the mornings C. Mrs. Bentley drinks coffee out of an insulated purple thermos. D. Mrs. Bentley’s coffee thermos can hold 24 oz. of liquid.

14. 4. Which of the following is an example of an inference. A. Mrs
4. Which of the following is an example of an inference? A. Mrs. Bentley is full of energy in the mornings, she must drink a lot of coffee. B. Mrs. Bentley is too energetic in the mornings C. Mrs. Bentley drinks coffee out of an insulated purple thermos. D. Mrs. Bentley’s coffee thermos can hold 24 oz. of liquid.