Which of the following questions can be answered by scientific investigation? Explain your reasoning. a. How does the type of soil affect plant growth? b. What kind of music should I listen to? c. Do wool sweaters keep you warmer than cotton sweaters? d. Is life science more interesting than Earth science? How do scientists make progress in understanding the natural world?

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Section 1: Thinking Like a Scientist • What skills do scientists use to learn about the world?

Thinking Like a Scientist Inferring When you explain or interpret your observations, you are making an inference. Observing By patiently observing chimpanzees, Jane Goodall learned many things using her senses about chimpanzee behavior. Classifying Field notes like these contain many details about a chimp’s daily activities. PredictionPredictions are forecasts of what will happen next.

Making Models Making models involves creating representations of complex objects or processes. This model traces a chimp’s journey through the forest.

Scale Models • A model that has accurate proportions to its parts!

End of Section: Thinking Like a Scientist

Section 2: The Study of Life • How are the branches of life science related? • What are some big ideas in life science?

Branches of Life Science Though life science can be divided into branches, the different fields of study often overlap.

BIG IDEAS IN LIFE SCIENCE!! • Organisms are diverse, yet share some characteristics. • Groups of organisms change over time. • The structure and function of organisms are complementary (work together). • Organisms operate on the same physical qualities as the natural world.

Links on Careers in Life ScienceThis is a “ Going Beyond Activity” Go to www.SciLinks.orgEnter the Code: cvn-1012 Click the SciLinks button for links on careers in life science.

End of Section: The Study of Life

Section 3: Scientific Inquiry • What is scientific inquiry? • What makes a hypothesis testable?

The Nature of Inquiry There is no set path that a scientific inquiry must follow. Pose Questions Form a Hypothesis Communicate Design an Experiment Draw Conclusions Collect and Interpret Data

What makes a Hypothesis testable??? • You have to have a variable: factors that are changed in the experiment. • The factor that is purposely changed is the manipulated variable. • The factor that may change in response to the manipulated variable is the responding variable. • You can only manipulate one variable at a time for the experiment to be CONTROLLED.

Collecting and Interpreting Data A data table helps you organize the information you collect in an experiment.Graphing the data may reveal any patterns in your data.

Control Group • After you get your data, to see if your hypothesis wascorrect, you must compare your results to a group that no variable was added called the control group.

The Nature of Inquiry ActivityThis is a “Going Beyond Activity”phschool.comEnter code: cgp-6012 Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about the nature of inquiry.

End of Section: Scientific Inquiry

Section 4: Safety in the Laboratory • Why is preparation important when carrying out scientific investigations in the lab and in the field? • What should you do if an accident occurs?

Safety in the Lab These safety symbols remind you to work carefully when performing labs in this textbook series. Make sure you are familiar with each safety symbol and what it means.

In Case of an Accident When any accident occurs, no matter how minor, notify your teacher immediately. Then listen to your teacher’s directions and carry them out quickly.

Links on Laboratory SafetyThis is a “Going Beyond Activity”Go to www.PHSchool.comEnter code: scn-1624 Click the SciLinks button for links on laboratory safety.

End of Section: Safety in the Laboratory

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