1. Nature of Science Laboratory Instruments
Science Tools
Nature of Science
Laboratory Instruments

2. SCIENCE TOOLS
To become a successful scientists, we must be able to identify and use scientific instruments or tools.
These tools are for collecting data, taking measurements, and recording observations.
Scientists use a variety of tools to do investigations.

3. Computer

4. Computer
An electronic tool that performs tasks by processing and storing information.

5. Calculators

6. Calculators
An electronic device for solving mathematics problems

7. Hand Lens

8. Hand Lens
A tool that magnifies objects or makes objects look larger than they are.

9. Microscope

10. Microscope
A tool that magnifies at a much higher power than a hand lens.
It magnifies smaller objects or makes smaller objects larger.

11. Telescope

12. Telescope A tool used to see objects in the sky.
It magnifies or makes objects in the sky larger.

13. Meter Stick

14. Meter Stick
A meter tool that is used to measure distance and the length of objects.
It tells how long an object is.
In science, we use the metric system for measuring.

15. Thermometer

16. Thermometer A tool used to measure temperature.
It measures the temperature of air and most liquids.
The Greek prefix “therm” means “heat”.

17. Compass

18. Compass A tool for telling directions.
It is used to find Earth’s magnetic north pole.

19. Stopwatch

20. Stopwatch
A tool used to measure time.

21. Balance

22. Balance A tool used to measure the mass of an object.
A balance tells the amount of matter an object contains.

23. Magnet

24. Magnet A magnet attracts and repels substances.
It is attracted or pulled to items with iron, nickel, or cobalt.

25. Collecting Net

26. Collecting Net
A tool used to gather animal samples or specimens such as butterflies.

27. Safety Goggles

28. Safety Goggles
Eyewear that protects the eyes during a science experiment or investigation from hazardous or dangerous materials.

29. Test Tube

30. Test Tube A test tube is smaller than a beaker.
It is open at one end and closed at the other.
It is cylindrical in shape.

31. Beaker

32. Beaker An open cylindrical container with a pouring lip.
It measures volume or the amount that is being held.

33. Graduated Cylinder

34. Graduated Cylinder Smaller than a beaker.
It is open at one end and closed at the other.
It is cylindrical in shape.
Used to measure the volume of substances.

35. Petri Dish

36. Petri Dish A container used for samples or specimens.
A tool to culture microorganisms.

37. Hot Plate

38. A tool used to heat objects.
Hot Plate
A tool used to heat objects.

39. Science Process Skills

40. Science Process Skills are tools scientist use to:
identify problems
solve problems
And answer questions “known” about our world

41. OBSERVING

42. OBSERVING Use your senses to determine the properties of
an object or event. You must pay close attention to everything
around you and sometimes use instruments
to assist you with your observations.

43. OBSERVING USE ONE OR MORE OF YOUR 5 SENSES SMELLING SEEING HEARING
TASTING
TOUCHING

44. COMPARING

45. COMPARING Identify common and distinguishing
characteristics of objects or events.

46. COMPARING
HARD Vs SOFT
SMOOTH Vs ROUGH
DULL Vs SHINNY

47. CLASSIFY / ORDERING

48. CLASSIFY / ORDERING Group information, objects or events together
according to their properties.

49. CLASSIFY / ORDERING BLUE BUTTONS WITH TWO HOLES
BROWN BUTTONS WITH 1 HOLE
PAIRS OF WHITE SHOES WITH LACES
PAIRS OF WHITE SHOES WITH NO LACES.

50. RECOGNIZING TIME / SPACE RELATIONSHIPS

51. RECOGNIZING TIME / SPACE RELATIONSHIPS
Estimate and / or describe how
moving and / or nonmoving objects
are related to one another during or
based upon a specific event.

52. MEASURING

53. MEASURING
You use the skill of estimation to describe and record appropriate units of measurement (quantitative measurement) and make relationships between time and space.

54. COLLECTING, RECORDING, AND INTERPRETING DATA

55. COLLECTING, RECORDING, AND INTERPRETING DATA
Gather and organize data in order to make it understandable (sense of), meaningful, and to find patterns that lead to inferences, predictions, and hypothesis.

56. COMMUNICATING

57. COMMUNICATING
Use written and spoken words, graphs, tables, diagrams, and technology presentations to share and explain ideas and information.

58. INFERRING

59. INFERRING
Form a conclusion based upon observations and prior knowledge that you think explains your observations and data. Making inferences may include cause and effect relationships.

60. OBSERVATION OR INFERENCE?
THE LADY HAS HER UMBRELLA UP.
IT MUST BE RAINING OUTSIDE.

61. PREDICTING

62. PREDICTING
You state the anticipated outcomes of new or changed situations using your previous / past/ prior knowledge, experiences, and observations.

63. PREDICTING I believe that the egg will float in salt
water and sink in fresh water.

64. HYPOTHESIS

65. HYPOTHESIS
Form and make suggested solutions to a problem; from observations or events.
You will state in writing or verbally your solution or explanation as the expected outcome of an experiment.

66. IDENTIFYING AND CONTROLLING VARIABLES

67. IDENTIFYING AND CONTROLLING VARIABLES
Be very specific in identifying the factors and / or control the factors that might be expected to affect the outcome of an experiment.
You will select the variables to be manipulated
and / or held constant.

68. IDENTIFYING AND CONTROLLING VARIABLES
We want to determine if the rate of plant growth
in salt water and fresh water will be different.
The independent variable is the type of water.
The dependent variable is the rate of plant growth.
The constants are the same type of plants, the same amount of water and sunlight, in the same type and amount of soil .

69. EXPERIMENTATION

70. EXPERIMENTATION Write the step by step procedures (instructions).
These procedures will assist in determining (decide) if your tested hypothesis is supported or not supported by the results of your manipulation of materials.

71. MAKING AND USING MODELS

72. MAKING AND USING MODELS
You are developing a copy representing the “real world” application you’re studying.
This will allow you to understand how systems work and how they are constructed.
Models can be a constructed replication (3-dimensional copy),
a painting, a drawing, a diagram or even an equation.

73. ANALYSE

74. ANALYSE Study the results / data of your experiment or
investigation carefully and try to find a pattern or relationship.