1 Nature of Science Day 3 ✦ Review primary& secondary source ✦ Practice observation and inference ✦ Establish “fact” vs. “truth” 1

Homework review  Open the envelope on your desk.  Sort the primary, secondary, and either categories.  Use your homework to discuss (with your team) where you placed the information resources.  Be prepared to share out the answer to this question, “Why did you put that resource in that category?”

Be prepared to share out the answer to this question, “Why did you put that resource in that category?”

4 Primary Source Secondary Source Both Could be Primary OR Secondary

5 DIRECTIONS: Complete the chart following your group’s sort and the class discussion of the correct classifications. Primary OR Secondary Source? PrimaryBothSecondary My Definition of Primary Source… My Explanation of how an item could be both primary and secondary… My Definition of Secondary Source… 5 Sample 5 Samples 1 Primary Source that confused me… 1 “Both” source that confused me… 1 Secondary Source that confused me… Jaclyn (Sill) Evans Bentonville High School, Bentonville, Arkansas

6  science: A way of knowing about the natural world based on observations and experiments that can be confirmed or disproved by other scientists using accepted scientific techniques.  theory: A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that typically incorporates many confirmed obserations, laws, and successfully verified hypotheses.hypotheses  fact: A natural phenomenon repeatedly confirmed by observation.  law: A description of how a natural phenomenon will occur under certain circumstances. 6 SS cience: AA way of kk nowing... What do we use these sources for??

7 Observation Vs. Inference  Observation - recognizing and noting some FACT to gather information about the world You make observations using your five senses Observations must be specific and accurate, not relative, so that it means the same to everyone. 7 If science is based on observations... What are observations?

8 Characteristics or Count Etta has two green eyes. What else do you observe?

9 Observation Vs. Inference  Inference - a possible explanation or guess about an observation Example: In the morning, you step outside your house and see the ground is wet. You infer that it rained. 9

10 Fact and Truth  In order to look at what science is and what science is not, we need to know the difference between these two words.  (By the way, Indiana Jones does not really do the job of an archeologist!)Indiana Jones archeologist!) archeology: The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of physical remains, such as graves, tools, pottery, and other artifacts.

11 Fact vs. Truth  Look at this picture...which one do you think this web site wants you to focus on?  So...is this photo a primary or secondary source?

12 Fact and Truth?  Which do you think we use in science?  When you were answering the Survey on Science yesterday, did you know the difference between astrology and astronomy? Why is this significant in a discussion about the nature of science?  What misconceptions about science do you see in our survey results? Fact A natural phenomenon repeatedly confirmed by observation. Truth a statement of acceptance of truth or actuality based in belief or values; considered to be the ultimate meaning or standard Science Law Non-Science Art, religion, philosophy Must be proved and tested Based on belief, opinion and/or values Must be confirmed by other observations Does not need confirmation

“Science is ‘just’ a theory.”

RESPONSE: Scientific theories are explanations that are based on lines of evidence, enable valid predictions, and have been tested in many ways. In contrast, there is also a popular definition of theory—a “guess” or “hunch.” These conflicting definitions often cause unnecessary confusion about science.

Aren’t science and religion opposing ideas? Newspapers and television sometimes make it seem as though evolution and religion are incompatible, but that is secondary source information!! Many past and current scientists who have made major contributions to our understanding of the world have be devoutly religious.

16 Nature of science  Let’s take a look at the results of the  Survey on Science  Would this survey be primary or secondary? My definition of biology is... What is science? What is a fact? Do you like science? Why or why not? What is a scientific theory? What is a scientific law? What are the steps of the scientific process? What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?

17 What are we trying to answer by looking at this survey?  Describe the individuals sampled.  How many people gave an accurate definition of science?  How many said they liked science?science  How many had misconceptions about what a theory, a fact, or a law is? theoryfactlaw 17

18 Let’s Try it!- An Ancient Coin  Collect the worksheet “An Ancient Coin”  This coin was found by an archeologist on a site.  Which statements are observations? Which statements are inferences? Which observation is each inference based on? Focus on the facts!  Connect the ideas: Exit slip 18

19 Connect the ideas- EXIT SLIP  Compare the words:(make a t-table, Venn diagram, web, whatever) l Fact l Science l Observation l Truth l Non-Science l Inference l Primary Source l Secondary Source 19

Homework: 1. Read through the rest of the syllabus....Sign by Friday 2. Practice recognizing primary and secondary source....Discuss with team as warm- up 3. Meet at L44 (your regular classroom) tomorrow. Bring binder paper and pen to class.... :0) Be ready to discuss sources!