Exploring the World: Skills of a Scientist

1. Thinking Like a Scientist

2. Thinking Like a Scientist What are 5 skills scientists use to learn more about the world? Observing Inferring Predicting Classifying Making Models

3. Observations • An observation is the gathering of information by using our five senses: Sight

4. Observations • An observation is the gathering of information by using our five senses: Smell

5. Observations • An observation is the gathering of information by using our five senses: Hearing

6. Observations • An observation is the gathering of information by using our five senses: Taste

7. Observations • An observation is the gathering of information by using our five senses: Touch

8. Observations There are two types of observations • Quantitative • Qualitative

9. Quantitative Observations • Quantitative observations measure what we observe. • “Quantitative” = quantity (numerical)

10. Quantitative Observations • These observations use numbers to measure something in a quantitative way. • Example: The flower has seven petals. • Example: You have 8 new emails.

11. Qualitative Observations • Qualitative observations describe what we observe. • “Qualitative” = quality (descriptive)

12. Qualitative Observations • These observations use adjectives to describe something. • Example: The flower has white petals. • Example: The lemon tastes sour

13. Which is better? • Both types of observations are valuable in science. • Qualitative: The road is long. (describes) • Quantitative: The road is 5 km long. (measures)

14. Which is better? • Sometimes scientists need to quantify qualitative observations. • For example, someone might say that a dead fish is smelly. • It is hard to know just how smelly the fish is though.

15. Which is better? • To make this quantitative, the scientist could ask the person to rate the “smelliness” on a scale of 1-5. • This would then allow you to compare how smelly the fish is!

16. 1 = Least Smelly5 = Most Smelly

17. Qualitative or Quantitative? • There are 15 flowers with white petals • The email is long • The surface feels rough • The leaf is 9 cm long

18. Qualitative vs Quantitative Observations Individual Activity

19. Inferences • When you explain or interpret the things you observe, you are inferring, or making an inference. • They are based on reasoning from what you already know

20. Inferences • Inferences are often changed when new observations are made. • Observations are information we gather directly through our five senses….Inferences help explain those observations!

21. Here are some examples! • Observation: The grass on the school’s front lawn is wet. • Possible inferences: • It rained. • The sprinkler was on. • There is dew on the grass from the morning. • A dog urinated on the grass!

22. Here are some examples! • Observation: The school fire alarm is going off. • Possible inferences: • The school is on fire. • We are having a fire drill. • A student pulled the fire alarm.

23. Last one! • Observation: A student is sitting in the main office. • Possible inferences: ? Why might a student be sitting there?

24. What Inferences can you make about this picture?

25. What Inferences can you make about this picture?

26. Observation vs Inference Individual/Group Activity

27. Predicting • Making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence

28. Predicting • Inferences are attempts to explain what is happening or has happened • Predictions are forecasts of what will happen

29. Predicting • What do you think will happen next?

30. Predicting vs Inferring Individual/Group Activity(worksheet) Analyzing Data and Predicting Individual/Group Activity (page 9 – Math analyzing data)

31. Classifying • The process of grouping together items that are alike in some way

32. Classifying • Helps you stay organized • Organizing a notebook by subject and date helps you find things later

33. Classifying • Classifying complex behaviors makes it easier to study and compare

34. Making Models • Involves creating representations of complex objects or processes • Models help people study and understand things that are complex or that can’t be observed directly

35. Examples of Models • Globes • Charts • Movie sets • Pictures • Maps • Computer models • Diagrams

36. Making Models • Models are only representations of a real object or process • An object or process may be represented by many different types of models • Some information may be missing from a model

37. Examples of Models • A model that traces a chimp’s travel over the course of 1 day

38. Examples of Models A Scientific Model Individual/Group Activity • Read the information about the two different models of the solar system and answer the 7 questions.

39. Scientific Attitudes What is Science? • Science is a way of learning about the natural world • Successful scientists possess certain important attitudes, or habits of mind

40. Scientific Attitudes • Curiosity • Honesty • Open-Mindedness and Skepticism • Creativity

41. Scientific Attitudes • Curiosity • An important attitude that drives scientists • Question • Explore • Investigate

42. Scientific Attitudes • Honesty • Good Scientists always report their observations and results truthfully

43. Scientific Attitudes • Open-Mindedness and Skepticism • Scientists need to be open-minded – capable of accepting new and different ideas

44. Scientific Attitudes • Open-Mindedness and Skepticism • Scientists also need to be skeptical – having an attitude of doubt

45. Scientific Attitudes • Creativity • Coming up with inventive ways to solve problems or produce new things