What is Science?

Activity b On your own (5 min)  Write down in one or two brief sentences, what the word “Science” conveys to you b In pairs  Compare what you have written with one of your neighbours. Try to come up with a definition of Science between you

Activity (continued) b In fours.  Join with another group. Compare your definitions and from them try to compile a list of words that represent what science is about.  Appoint a member of your group as a spokesperson.

Some Features of Science b Empirical b Deterministic b Parsimony b Falsifiable b Hypothesis testing

Stages of development b Experience b Observation & Classification b Quantification b Determining Relationships b Developing and Testing Theories

Activity -Why do experiments?  With your neighbour:  List four reasons why experiments are carried out.  In Fours: (combine with an adjacent group)  Compare lists. Try to identify categories of experiment.

Some categories of experiment b Analyse b Compare b Correlate b Identify b Measure b Model b Order b Prepare b Sequence b Survey b Test hypothesis

Activity b Take each of the categories of experiment and relate them to one of the stages of development. b Draw up a table with stages in one column and categories in the other.

Possible Solution

Summary b Science is a practical activity which proceeds by  Systematic observation  Experimentation  Testing the validity of hypotheses

The End