What is Science?

List 5 things in your notebook that come to mind when I say the word science.

Science Science is the way of learning about the natural world. It is also the knowledge gained through different processes. A scientist seeks to understand: The natural world Skills such as observing, inferring, and predicting Successful scientists also possess certain attitudes, or habits of mind

Observing What are some things that you look for when observing something? Senses? Sight Hearing Touch Taste Smell

Inferring When you explain or interpret what you observe, that is an inference. An inference doesn’t mean guessing, but is based on reasoning. Where do you get that reasoning from? Past Knowledge Senses Current or Previous Observations

Predicting When a scientist makes an inference and it is correct, it can now be categorized as a prediction. Predicting means making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence.

Scientific Inquiry (Scientific Method) This refers to the ways scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on evidence. Steps of the Scientific Method: State the Problem Form a Hypothesis Create an Experiment Observe the Experiment/Collect Data/Analyze Data Make a Conclusion

Scientific Method (cont.) What is a hypothesis? A possible explanation for a set of observations or answer to a scientific question. What things are needed for a successful experiment? Control Group Variables Independent and Dependent Variables

Independent vs. Dependent Variable deliberately changed Dependent Variable that is observed and that changes in response to the independent variable

Data Data gives us an organized way to interpret the experiment Types of Data Observations Graphs Figures Tables

Conclusion What happens if your hypothesis is correct? Scientists will do the experiment many, many more times. If it is proven over time and well-tested, it will be declared a scientific theory. If the theory is concrete and will not change, it is then called a law. What happens if the hypothesis is wrong? Back to the drawing board!