1. What is Science & Scientific Method
Book Chapter 1

2. Science is… Observing the world Watching and Listening
Recording and Analyzing Data
Science is our attempt to understand and explain the natural world

3. Types of science There are 3 main branches of science:
Life Science (Biology)
Study of living things
Earth Science (Geology, Geography, Astronomy)
Study of nonliving things and their history
Physical Science (Chemistry, Physics)
The study of matter and energy

4. The Scientific Method

5. Experiments & Variables
A controlled experiment is an experiment in which only ONE variable is changed
Variables are parts of the experiment that can be changed
An Independent Variable is a variable that is changed ON PURPOSE
A Dependent Variable is a variable that is observed and that changes in response to the independent variable

6. Variables Practice
Question: “Do plants grow better in the presence of natural light?”
Set-up:
3 potted sunflower plants—one in the storeroom, one in the classroom, & one in the courtyard
All 3 plants receive the same amount of water every day for 1 week
Dependent Variable? Independent Variable?