1. What is a scientific model?
A scientific model represents objects, phenomena, and physical processes in a consistent and logical way.
Phenomena is any observable occurrence

2. Scientists develop models about many different natural phenomena
Proton particles in light
Weather systems
How muscles move – like when you shoot a basketball
How dinosaurs behaved on the planet before humans
When earthquakes hit or volcanoes erupt
How different ecosystems work – deserts, oceans, and forests
Planet, sun and moon model…
Question:
Can you come up with any examples of some
SCIENTIFIC MODELS? Hint: What model did you construct last year? #1

3. Scientific PROCESS of studying the world around us:
A. Make observations
B. Look for patterns in those observations
C. Develop and test for possible explanations
Taking observations and questions to another level is to observe patterns and come up with possible explanations to test. #2

4. Let’s act like SCIENTISTS?
Observations
Patterns
Possible Explanations
Ex. Leaves change colors and fall off trees
Ex. This happens every year at about the same time
Does this happen because…
It gets colder?
The days are shorter?
There is less sun?
Ex. Hiccups
Ex. This happens every time a person eats to fast
You eat too much food?
Something is triggering a spasm in your stomach?
Blinking eyes
Dark clouds
Drop a ball and a paper clip
Having twins
Cycles of the moons
Refer back to developing and testing during the animal behavior experiments for third PROCESS magnet.

5. Examples of scientific PROCESSES you have participated in:
Gill Flap/Fish Temperature lab
Making observations & finding patterns
Animal Behavior experiments
Making observations, finding patterns and then developing and testing
Jane Goodall and the chimps
Making observations, finding patterns in tool making and then developed ideas about how they were similar to us
Refer back to developing and testing during the animal behavior experiments for third PROCESS magnet.

6. Once scientists have TESTED and EXPLAINED the phenomena, those EXPLANATIONS are called…
SCIENTIFIC MODELS!
Refer to handout question #3 #3

7. SCIENTIFIC MODELS… B. Predict future observations
A. Explain observations
B. Predict future observations
C. Be realistic
The students studied supernatural phenomena and you can only use NATURAL explanations #4

8. Examples of SCIENTIFIC MODELS:
A model of the motions of the sun, moon and earth (which you participated in last year)
A model of predicting eclipses
Models that explain weather phenomena can be used to predict weather

9. Models lead scientists to ask questions
Diseases caused by bacteria discovered by scientists
Your ANIMAL BEHAVIOR experiments
Question:
Refer to handout question #5
Looking back on your animal behavior experiment, explain in a few sentences any NEW questions you would now ask after getting your results? #5

10. How are models communicated?
Graphs
Drawings, graphs, equations, three-dimensional structures or words

11. How are models communicated?
Drawings
Drawings, graphs, equations, three-dimensional structures or words

12. How are models communicated?
Equations
A=πr2
Drawings, graphs, equations, three-dimensional structures or words
Question:
Can you think of any other equations that scientists and mathematicians use to explain data?

13. Model vs. Representation
A model is the IDEA
Graphs, drawings and equations are the REPRESENTATION of the model or idea

14. The Black Box/Mystery Maker Experiment 6th Grade
Think back to your explanations for how the Black Box works… What did you do?
Look for patterns in your observations?
Develop ideas how it might have worked?
Communicate your ideas to other scientists (in the class) using representations of your idea?
Drawings, graphs, equations, three-dimensional structures or words

15. How do you decide if a model is “right”?
A community of scientists may have more than one model to explain a given phenomena
Many models were proposed to explain the “Black Box” experiment from 6th grade
Were all of these models of the “Black Box” equally valid? Let’s discuss.
Drawings, graphs, equations, three-dimensional structures or words

16. How do you decide if a model is RIGHT?
Are multiple models for the same phenomena equally valid?
Just because there are multiple models, does not mean that they both can’t be valid
Unacceptable or
Acceptable
Refer to handout on Black Box
RIGHT

17. Can scientists change their SCIENTIFIC MODELS?
Did you change your Black Box model?
Scientists DO change their models to better fit the criteria of the scientific model
Explain observations
Predict future phenomena
Be realistic
Refer to handout on Black Box

18. IT’S YOUR TURN TO BE THE SCIENTIST!
You will be developing your own models to explain some interesting genetic phenomena
You will be developing models to explain how seeds that are round and wrinkled have mainly round peas for offspring (kids).
Drawings, graphs, equations, three-dimensional structures or words