Scientific Inquiry Vocabulary Terms

Let’s review our whole brain actions! Teacher says: “Class Class?” Students say: “Yes Yes!” Teacher Says: “Mirror words” Students repeat teacher’s exact words and hand gestures Teacher Says: *Teacher claps twice* “Class teach!” Students say: “*Students clap twice* Ok…(and begin teaching one another what the teacher just discussed)..”

Let’s Practice “Class, Class?” “Mirror words” *Clap twice* “Class Teach”

Hypothesis An educated guess… Uses… “If” “then” phrase structure! Ex. If I leave food out on the counter, then the foot will begin to rot.

Independent Variable A variable that does NOT change. Graphed on the “X”-axis of a graph.

Dependent Variable A variable that changes. Graphed on the “Y”-axis of a graph.

Constant or Control Variable A variable in an experiment that does not change. It remains constant. Ex. Speed of light

Inference The process of arriving at some conclusion based on assumed premises. Fossil footprints

Observation An act of viewing or noting a fact or occurrence for some scientific purpose. Uses the 5 senses.

Theory A “summary” of a group of hypothesis that have been supported through repeated testing/experiments. *Does not EXPLAIN WHY

Law Explains “things”, but they do not describe them. Principle that appears to be without exception at the time it is made.