Thinking Like a Scientist: The Study of Life and Scientific Inquiry

Table of Contents • Chapter Preview • 1.1 Thinking Like a Scientist • 1.2 The Study of Life • 1.3 Scientific Inquiry • 1.4 Safety in the Laboratory

Chapter Preview Questions • 1. In science, a testable question is called a(n) • a. conclusion. • b. variable. • c. hypothesis. • d. experiment.

Chapter Preview Questions • 2. Scientific progress is made by • a. doing one experiment that supports a hypothesis. • b. drawing conclusions from one data set. • c. changing many variables in the same experiment. • d. asking questions and trying to answer them.

Chapter Preview Questions • 3. Which of these skills could be used to carry out any scientific investigation? • a. observing • b. inferring • c. predicting • d. all of the above

Chapter Preview Questions • 4. One of the most important steps in any scientific investigation is • a. communicating the results. • b. changing the hypothesis during the experiment. • c. changing several variables at a time. • d. quickly carrying out the investigation once or twice.

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?

High-Use Academic Words Each section in this textbook contains key concepts, which are the section’s most important ideas. n. An idea or thought, especially a general idea or understanding

High-Use Academic Words n. A series of actions or events; a particular way of doing things Science is an ongoing process of discovery.

High-Use Academic Words n. Facts, figures, or signs to show that something exists or is true Scientists propose explanations based on evidence they gather.

High-Use Academic Words n. Careful study of a subject to discover new facts or test new ideas Research into the causes of cancer may lead to a cure.

Apply It! Choose the word that best completes each sentence. Laboratory safety is an important ____ in this chapter. concept 2. Jane Goodall conducted ____ on the behavior of chimpanzees. research 3. Scientists do research and gather ____ to test their ideas. evidence

End of Chapter Preview

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 about chimpanzee behavior. Classifying Field notes like these contain many details about a chimp’s daily activities. Prediction Predictions are forecasts of what will happen next.

Chimp Food • This graph shows the diet of chimps at Gombe National Park during May of one year.

Fruit, seeds, leaves, meat, insects, blossoms, and other foods Reading Graphs: According to the graph, what foods do chimps eat? Chimp Food

Seeds Interpreting Data: Did chimps feed more on seeds or leaves during this month? Chimp Food

95% Calculating: What percentage of the diet did blossoms, seeds, leaves, and fruit make up? Chimp Food

Insects will constitute a much greater portion of the chimps diet, with other food diminishing proportionately. Predicting: Suppose you learn that November is the main termite-fishing season, when chimps spend a large part of their time eating termites. Predict how the chimp diet might change in November. Chimp Food

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

More on Scientific Thinking • Click the PHSchool.com button for an activity aboutscientific thinking.

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.

Links on Careers in Life Science • 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?

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.

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

The Nature of Inquiry Activity • 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 Safety • Click the SciLinks button for links on laboratory safety.

End of Section: Safety in the Laboratory

QuickTake Quiz • Click to start quiz.

Thinking Like a Scientist: The Study of Life and Scientific Inquiry

Thinking Like a Scientist: The Study of Life and Scientific Inquiry

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents