Introduction to… Miss Charney Northville Central School.

Introduction to…

Miss Charney

Northville Central School

So…what is it?

Science is a way of learning about the natural world.

Therefore…

Life Science (or biology) is a way

of learning about the natural living

world.

How can we learn?

You can learn by using your 5 senses

1. Sight

2. Hearing

3. Touch

4. Taste

5. Smell

Information please!

Observing uses your 5 senses to gather information in 2 different forms

Quantitative observations are descriptions by number

Example: 3 students are missing

Qualitative observations deal with descriptions not using numbers

Example: The green grapes are sour.

Can you explain that?!

Inferring is when you explain or interpret the things you observe based on what you already know (reasoning)

Example: You see a classmate smile after getting back an exam. You assume that the student received a good grade.

**Are inferences always correct??**VITAMIN C

“100% chance of weather”

Predicting means making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence.

Example: You predict your mom will ground you if you bring home a bad grade. This is based on your brother being grounded the last time he brought home a bad grade.

Which of these does not belong?

Classifying is the process of grouping together items that are alike in some way.

Example: You classify your class papers in your binders into notes, homework, labs, etc.

“If it doesn’t say Micro machines…”

Making models involves creating representations of complex objects or processes.

Example: You are trying to give your friend directions to your house, but they aren’t understanding….you draw them a map

Inferences vs. PredictionsSlide One

Tommy missed the bus and arrived at school late. He must have overslept.

Inferences vs. PredictionsSlide Two

I see Zach studying his notes. In the past he has done

well after studying…I think he will do well

on the quiz tomorrow.

Inferences vs. PredictionsSlide Three

I see a broken egg on the floor! It must have rolled off of that table.

Inferences vs. PredictionsSlide Four

That egg is rolling toward the edge of

the table! It is going to make such a

mess!!

Inferences vs. PredictionsSlide Five

There are a line of dark clouds in the

sky coming this way. I think it is going to

storm soon!

Problem:

Say you were faced with the problem in which your

grandmother’s rose bushes were dying. What major steps would you take in order to bring them

back to life?

How to Solve the Problem

Scientific Inquiry is the way in which scientists study the natural world and come up with explanations based on the evidence that they gather

The Riddle:

Queen

Helga

Eats

Dry

Cereal

Queen

Questioning happens after facing a problem or a question about an observation.– must be scientific

Helga

Hypothesis is a possible explanation or answer to what you observe

Always Begin With…

“My hypothesis is…”

Example: My hypothesis is a plant will grow taller if it is given 1 cup of water a day.

Eats

Experimental Design is how you plan to test your hypothesis

Experimental Design Components

Variables are factors that can change in an experiment

Example: the amount of water, height of plant

Two Types of Variables

Independent variables are purposely changed to test a hypothesis

Example: amount of water given

Dependent variables are the factors that may change in response to the independent

Example: height of plant

A must have…

A control is the group that is not being tested

Example: A plant under normal conditions being given the standard amount of water.

The Set-up

Control group (Plant 1) – plant watered whenever looks dry

Variable group:

Plant 2 – ¼ cup of water per day

Plant 3 – ½ cup of water per day

Plant 4 – ¾ cup of water per day

Plant 5 – 1 cup of water per day

Dry - Data Collection

Plant Amount of Water a Day

Height

Control

Plant 2

Plant 3

Plant 4

Plant 5

Example Graph

• See board!

Cereal

Conclusions are a summary of what you have learned from an experiment

Accept or Reject Hypothesis?

Accept – data supports hypothesis

Reject – data does not support hypothesis