SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS Science is more than a collection of facts. Learning the process skills is preparation for becoming a scientist. Process skills are the tools scientists use to “know” about the world. s Click on the links below to get started. Observe Classify Measure Infer Predict Credits Extensions About the Author

OBSERVATION Observation is the process of using the senses to determine properties of an object or event. Click on the pictures.

WHAT DO YOU SEE? The creature has 5 eyes. The baby is walking. Sample observations using sight: The creature has 5 eyes. The baby is walking. The car is orange.

WHAT DO YOU SMELL? The fruit smells sweet. The coffee smells strong. Sample observations using smell: The fruit smells sweet. The coffee smells strong. The flowers are fragrant.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL? The scissors are sharp. The cat is soft. Sample observations using touch: The scissors are sharp. The cat is soft. The soap is slippery.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR? The girl is laughing. The audience is clapping. Click the pictures to hear sounds: The girl is laughing. The audience is clapping. Someone flushed the toilet.

WHAT DO YOU TASTE? The watermelon is sweet. The chili is spicy. The milk is sour.

CLASSIFICATION The process of grouping or ordering objects or events into categories based on properties or criteria. Example: Place all leaves having a certain vein pattern into a one group. Use of a dichotomous key is helpful in classifying to identify an object.

DICHOTOMOUS KEY A dichotomous key is an identification tool that uses paired statements to assist a person in learning the identity of an object. A dichotomous key is a listing of characteristics, such as structure and behavior, organized in such a way that an organism can be identified or classified. Think of a dichotomous key as a type of scavenger hunt. Example of dichotomous key Interactive dichotomous key After linking to the Web, click the back button or close the browser.

DICHOTOMOUS KEY EXAMPLE 1. a. tail fins are horizontal—whale………………….go to 2 b. tail fins are vertical—fish……………………….go to 3 2. a. has teeth or tusk—toothed whale………………..go to 4 b. has no teeth………………………...BALEEN WHALE 3. a. has gill slits behind mouth—shark…….………...go to 5 b. has no gill slits……………………..NONSHARK FISH 4. a. black with white underside………….KILLER WHALE b. tusk, gray with dark spots………………....NARWHAL 5. a. head is hammershaped……..HAMMERHEAD SHARK b. tail is half the body length……….THRESHER SHARK

Click to learn more about measurement tools. …..using both standard and nonstandard measures or estimates to describe the dimensions of an object or event …..comparing an unknown quantity with a known quantity Measurements are to be recorded in an orderly and systemic fashion with labeled units of measure. Click to learn more about measurement tools.

MEASUREMENT TOOLS Length – linear measurement base unit : meter Click each graphic to find out more. Length – linear measurement base unit : meter Volume – capacity base unit : liter Weight – mass base unit : gram Temperature – hot/cold base unit : Celsius After linking to the Web, click the back button or close the browser.

INFERENCE The process of drawing a conclusion about a specific event based on observations and data; may include cause and effect relationships. Examples of inference Your turn to try

INFERENCE EXAMPLES ….saying a person who used the pencil made a lot of mistakes because the eraser was well worn. ….saying that a train is coming because the cross gate is down.

MAKING INFERENCES ANSWER Read the paragraph then answer the questions. Tommy and Johnny were hot and sweaty as they sat outside the principal’s office. Dirt smeared both of their faces. They could hear the teacher’s voice as she gave Mr. Jones her account of what happened. Tommy sneered at Johnny and Johnny returned an angry glare. As Miss Green left Mr. Jones’ office, the boys hung their heads so they wouldn’t have to look her in the eye. From the paragraph, you can INFER that…… The boys are best friends. The boys had disappointed their teacher. The principal was a nice man. Click to hear the paragraph. ANSWER

Tommy and Johnny had disappointed their teacher. ANSWER: B Tommy and Johnny had disappointed their teacher. What are the clues? We know the boys are mad at each other because Tommy sneered at Johnny and he returned an angry glare. We can guess they had been fighting because dirt smeared their faces and they were sitting outside the principal’s office. The BIGGEST CLUE is the last sentence: the boys hung their heads so they didn’t have to look her in the eye.

PREDICTING The process of forming an idea of an expected result—not a guess– but a belief of what will occur based on present knowledge, observations, and inferences. Example: Predicting the height of a plant in two weeks time based on a graph of its growth during the previous four weeks. Real World Connection Activity

WHO USES PREDICTIONS? Meteorologist –uses weather trends of the past to predict today’s weather. Financial advisor – predicts which investments will be profitable. Doctors – make predictions of a patient’s future well being/health.

What will a Magnet Attract? ACTIVITY What will a Magnet Attract? Predict which objects you think the magnet will attract. Test your predictions with a magnet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR This project was designed by Becky Sons while enrolled in ECOMP 5016: Teaching and Learning with Multimedia, a required course for the Masters of Technology in Education program through Lesley University. My name is Becky Sons. I am a middle school teacher at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. This project was designed for my science class to introduce the process skills. The project can also be used for reinforcement. When people ask why I teach at the “juvie jail”, I tell them “my kids are just like other students. Mine just need me more.”

CREDITS The following resources were used to create this project for graphics, animation, and sound. http://www.clipsahoy.com/ http://www.gif.com/ http://www.gifanimations.com http://school.discovery.com/ http://www.frogstar.com/wav/effects.asp http://www.animatedgif.net http://www.bellsnwhistles.com/ Dichotomous key: http://www.harcourtschool.com/glossary/science/define/gr6/dichot_key6a.html Background music: Slide 1 :“I Wish it Would Rain” Temptations Slide 13: “Don’t Ask Me Why” Eurythmics I followed the fair use guidelines for the graphics and sounds used in this project.

EXTENSIONS For more activities using the science process skills, visit these sites: http://www.microbeworld.org/mlc/gifs/activities/pgs1-6.pdf http://www.middleschoolscience.com/shoe.pdf http://nerds.unl.edu/Pages/preser/sec/skills/dkeys.html http://www.aaamath.com/mea.html http://library.thinkquest.org/3804/ http://www.brainpop.com/science/matter/measurement/index.weml