1. 8th Grade Science Harding Middle
Chapter 1
8th Grade Science
Harding Middle

2. Learning about the natural world
Science
Learning about the natural world

3. Using senses to gather information
Observing
Using senses to gather information

4. Quantitative Observation
Using numbers or amounts

5. Qualitative Observation
Descriptions (color, feelings, smell, taste…)

6. Classifying
Grouping like items

7. Using observations to explain based on prior knowledge
Inferring
Using observations to explain based on prior knowledge

8. Making a claim of what will happen in the future
Predicting
Making a claim of what will happen in the future

9. Making conclusions based on data and observations
Analyzing
Making conclusions based on data and observations

10. Skepticism
Having doubt

11. Information recorded for observations (facts/figures)
Data
Information recorded for observations (facts/figures)

12. Data collected during scientific processes
Empirical Evidence
Data collected during scientific processes

13. Based on feelings or personal opinion
Subjective Reasoning
Based on feelings or personal opinion

14. Beliefs that may make use of science
Pseudoscience
Beliefs that may make use of science

15. Gathering evidence about the natural world; proposing explanations
Scientific Inquiry
Gathering evidence about the natural world; proposing explanations

16. Possible answer to a scientific question Normally written as if/then
Hypothesis
Possible answer to a scientific question
Normally written as if/then

17. Factor purposely changed in an experiment (by scientist)
Independent Variable
Factor purposely changed in an experiment (by scientist)

18. Something that changed due to the independent variable

19. Controlled Experiment
Only one variable is changed at a time

20. Error in the design of an experiment
Bias
Error in the design of an experiment

21. Repetition of an experiment
Repeated Trial
Repetition of an experiment

22. Attempt of scientists to conduct the same experiment
Replication
Attempt of scientists to conduct the same experiment

23. Scientific Explanation
Drawing conclusions with logical reasoning

24. Scientific Literacy
Understanding terms and principles to ask questions and make evaluations

25. Observations and conclusions that have been repeated
Evidence
Observations and conclusions that have been repeated

26. May be formed from evidence but not confirmed
Opinion
May be formed from evidence but not confirmed

27. SUBMIT HOMEWORK TO GIVE BIN  TAKE NOTE SHEET FROM TAKE BIN 
SCIENCE
SUBMIT HOMEWORK TO GIVE BIN 
TAKE NOTE SHEET FROM TAKE BIN 

28. Lesson 1: How do scientists explore the natural world?
Scientists explore the natural world by using skills such as observing, classifying, making models, inferring, and predicting.

29. It also means using tools, such as a microscope, to help your senses.
Observing
Observing means using one or more of your senses to gather information.
It also means using tools, such as a microscope, to help your senses.

30. Types of Observations
Quantitative observations deal with numbers or amounts.
Measuring a temperature or counting students
Qualitative observations deal with descriptions that cannot be expressed in numbers.
feelings

31. What are some observations that you can make about this picture?

32. Classifying
Classifying is grouping together items that are alike in some ways; organizing

33. Making Models Models are representations of complex models or objects.
Can be made of actual objects
May be drawings or mathematical equations
Examples: globe, cell, periodic table, geologic models
WHY?
We are better able to understand the properties of unseen parts of the natural world!

34. Inferring
Inferences are made when you explain or interpret things that you observe.
It is not guessing!
They are based on reasoning from your prior knowledge and from what you observe.

35. Predicting
A prediction is a claim or a statement made about what will happen in the future based on past experiences or evidence.
Predictions are related to inferences.
Inferences are attempts to explain what has already happened.
Predictions are forecasts about what will happen.

36. Analyzing
Analyzing involves evaluating observations and data to reach a conclusion about them.

37. Scientific Investigations
These forming and testing the ideas about the natural world.
This includes all of the skills discussed above.

38. Lesson 2: The Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
Think:
What do scientific investigations involve?
What are scientific and pseudoscientific thinking?
What characterizes science and its methods?

39. A Scientific Success
Dr. Percy Lavon Julian was a renowned research chemist who grew up and studied in Indiana. His first experiments isolated simple compounds found in plants. He used this knowledge to later develop drugs to treat glaucoma, slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s disease and prevent miscarriages. Julian also created aerofoam, a flame retardant that saved the lives of countless sailors during World War II. He became the first African- American chemist inducted into the National Academy of Sciences in 1973.
Why do you think it is important for scientists like him to be curious?

40. What do investigations involve?
Skills
Attitudes
Curiosity
Honesty
Creativity
Open-mindedness
Having doubt (skepticism) allows us to find new understandings
Collecting evidence in a scientific way
Using the evidence to make inferences and reach conclusions

41. Collecting Empirical Evidence
Information that is collected during a scientific investigation Is called data.
When this data is collected in a precise, logical, and consistent manner, this is called empirical evidence.

42. Analyzing Empirical Evidence
Scientists look for patterns in evidence that allows them to make inferences and predict trends.
WHY?
Patterns reveal a connection among all the data. Scientists can then make inferences and predict trends from this connection.
WHY DO THEY COLLECT A LOT OF DATA THAT SHOWS THE SAME PATTERN?
Patterns must be well supported by data.

43. What are scientific and pseudoscientific thinking?
Objective reasoning is based on evidence
Subjective reasoning is based on personal feelings or values
This could cause you to reach the wrong conclusion
You have to be able to distinguish between your feelings and scientific claims
A pseudoscience is a set of beliefs that my make use of science, but the conclusions and predictions are not based on observation, objective reasoning, or scientific evidence.
Pseudoscience is based on subjective reasoning, faulty reasoning, or faulty beliefs that are not careful examinations of evidence
Examples: astrology, palmistry, reflexology, telepathy

44. Nonscientific Ways of Knowing
Science is logical and well-rounded.
Understanding other aspects of the world requires training outside of science
Artistry, philosophy, history

45. What characterizes science and its methods?
Science is characterized by an ordered approach to learning about the world.
REPEATABLE investigations

46. Summarize
Although science is based on empirical evidence and objective reasoning, its results are open to change.
Sometimes, scientific investigations produce new data that show new patterns.
If the new patterns do not contradict existing ones, scientists keep their existing conclusions, or perhaps revise them slightly.
However, sometimes, new patterns contradict existing patterns. Scientists must then throw out their old conclusion.

47. Copy AND Answer on a separate sheet of paper!
How do scientists analyze empirical evidence?
Give an example of a pseudoscientific idea and one example of a scientific idea.
How might the conclusions drawn from scientific investigations change?

48. 8th Grade Science 9/8/14
Read pages in your TEXTBOOK….
Answer “My Planet Diary” (p 18)
Answer “Posing Questions” (p 19)
Answer “Developing a Hypothesis” and “Assess Your Understanding” (p 20)

49. PLACE YOUR SCIENCE BOOK ON THE BACK MIDDLE TABLE!

50. Lesson 3: Designing an Experiment
THINK:
What is scientific inquiry?
How do you design an experiment?
What is a scientific explanation?

51. What is Scientific Inquiry?
Definition: the process of gathering evidence about the natural world and proposing explanations based on this evidence.
How does it begin?
With a QUESTION!
This QUESTION leads to an OBSERVATION
This leads to defining a PROBLEM.
We do RESEARCH about the PROBLEM.

52. Developing a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a possible answer to a scientific question.
It is NOT a FACT.
A hypothesis must be testable.
It isn’t a wild guess, or a scientific fact
SCIENTISTS investigate and collect data that either supports or fails to support the hypothesis.
If a hypothesis isn’t supported by the data we need to look for a new answer (new experiment).

53. How Do You Design an Experiment?
You can design an experiment that follows reliable scientific principles to test a hypothesis.
You only want ONE item (variable) that changes in an experiment. All of the other things must stay the same.
By doing this you are able to notice and identify any differences.
The independent variable is purposely changed in the experiment.
The dependent variable changes in response to the independent variable.

54. Designing a Controlled Experiment
A scientific experiment where only one variable is changed at a time is called a controlled experiment.
REMEMBER TO KEEP ALL VARIABLES THE SAME EXCEPT FOR THE ONE YOU ARE TESTING!!!
Bias is the error in the design of an experiment.
You have to decide what you are planning on observing; this will help you collect data.
Making a data table is an organized way to collect and record observations.
You have to interpret your data; make diagrams, graphs and models.
These help you identify patterns and trends.