1. What is Science? Observation and Inference

2. What is Science? “Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.” “Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.” Richard Feynman Physicist Nobel Prize Winner “Science is an internally consistent set of lies designed to explain away the universe.” Art Beaucoup Paleobiologist

3. 3-Aspects of Science Scientific Knowledge Nature of Science Processes Facts Concepts Models Laws Theories

4. 3-Aspects of Science Science Processes Scientific Knowledge Nature of Science Process Skills: Questioning Observing Measuring Inferring Predicting Classifying

5. 3-Aspects of Science Scientific Knowledge Nature of Science Processes Science as a way of knowing.

6. 3-Aspects of Science Scientific Knowledge Nature of Science Processes

7. Process vs. Nature of Science Observation- –Using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings –What you “see” happening Inference- –A conclusion based on evidence –An “educated guess” –What you “think” is happening

8. Comics in the Classroom Make observations and inferences about the following cartoons.

9. “Notice all the computations, theoretical scribblings, and lab equipment, Norm….Yes, curiosity killed these cats.”

13. What’s the Point? Good way to practice making observations and inferences (process skills) Reinforces concept that scientific knowledge is based on observations and inferences (nature of science)

14. “Field Science” 201 Your science class is on a field trip to a fossil bed in Alberta, Canada. While exploring the site, you discover a slab of rock covered with interesting impressions. Your instructor invites the class to make observations and inferences about the imprints…

18. Conclusion Points Scientific knowledge is a combination of observation and inference. Inferences are tentative. As you get new data, your inferences can change.

19. Process vs. Nature of Science If observations is using your 5 senses to gather information about your surroundings Observe This and Make Observations & Inferences!

20. Scientific Method

21. What is the Scientific Method? A _________ that scientists use in order to find out about the world we live in. It helps us answer many _________. process questions

22. 7 Steps of the Scientific Method 1.Make ____________ 2.Ask a _________ 3.Purpose a ___________ 4.Design an ___________ 5._________ Data 6.Analyze _________ 7._________ Observations Hypothesis Collect Experiment Data Conclusion Question

23. Observations There are 2 types of observations –_____________ observations Quantitative Qualitative

24. Qualitative Observations Descriptions that do not use numbers Based on your five _______: what you hear, ____, smell, touch or taste. Example: Lion #1 _______ taller than Lion #2 Lion # 1 Lion # 2 senses see looks

25. Quantitative Observation Descriptions that use _______ ____________ of weight, mass, length, volume, etc. Example: Lion #1 is ___cm taller than Lion #2 Lion # 1 Lion # 2 90cm 60cm numbers Measurements 30

26. Ask a Question Scientific questions can be _______ by ___________ or evidence Scientific questions can begin with: –“What is the relationship between…” –“What factors cause…” –“What is the effect of…” answered observations

27. Propose a Hypothesis Hypothesis –a possible _________ of your observations or a possible _______ to a scientific _________. explanation answer question

28. Design an Experiment Making an organized ______ to test a _________ Involves many science skills –Identifying variables _________ variable –Preparing data _______ –Identifying needed _________ plan hypothesis Manipulated Responding Control materials tables

29. Collect Data You must _______ needed data and _______ it, usually in tables Example: –Hypothesis: Fertilizer makes plants grow bigger. –Data: The height of the different plants in the experiment must be collected. collect organize

30. Analyze Data To _______ or interpret means to ______ the data Look for _________ and make _________ Put your data into different _______ –Bar graphs –Pie graphs –Line graphs analyze explain patterns comparisons graphs

31. Conclusion _______ the analysis of the data with your _________ Decide whether the hypothesis was true or false. –True: ______ the experiment. –False: Ask a different ________. Compare hypothesis Repeat question