Thinking Like a Scientist

Created by Ondrea Cook 2011

Essential Question: How do scientists investigate the

natural world?

Objectives: Determine and explain the skills

scientists use to learn about the world.

Describe the attitudes that are important for scientists to have.

Vocabulary words… Observing Quantitative observations Qualitative observations Inferring Predicting Classifying Making models Science Skepticism

Scientists use skills such as… Observing Inferring Predicting Classifying Making models

…to learn about the world.

I. Observinga. OBSERVING: To use one or more of your senses to gather information. (seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling) 2 Types:b. Quantitative observations: Deals with numbers or amounts Ex. 99 degrees c. Qualitative Observations: Deals with descriptions, does not include numbers Ex. It is hot outside

II. Inferringa. Inferring: When you interpret or explain things you observe.

b. Inferring does not mean guessing.

c. Inferences are based on reasoning from what you already know.

d. You make inferences all the time, without even realizing.

e. Ex: If you see your friend smile after receiving test results from their last test, you may think that they got a good grade.

f. Inferences are not always correct even when the inference seems obvious.

Example: If you skipped breakfast on a day that you aced a math test, would a reasonable inference be that skipping a meal caused you to do well your test?

Example: Many people take vitamin C whenever they get a cold because they have quickly recovered from a cold when taking vitamin C in the past, they infer that taking vitamin C “cures” colds.

-What is the observation and what is the inference in this example? -How could you prove that vitamin C “cures” colds?

III. Predictinga. Predicting: making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experiences or evidenceb. Ex: If came home past curfew you may predict that you will be in trouble.c. Predictions are not always correct

Inferences and Predictions Closely related

Inferences = explain what is happening or has happened

Predictions = forecasts of what will happen

IV. Classifyinga. Classifying: The process used to group together items that are similar

b. Ex: Organizing your kitchen cupboards, sock drawer, a shelf in a garage, your backpack

c. Classifying things helps you to stay organized so you can find things easily

V. Making Modelsa. Making models: creating a representation of complex objects or processes

b. Models help people study and understand things that can not be observed directly.

c. Models can be used to help explain things

Can include physical objects or computer generated images

Remember: Models are only representations of the real object or process. You may not always be able to understand everything about the object or process

VI. Scientific Attitudesa. Science: way of learning about the natural worldb. Successful scientists possess certain attitudes:

Curiosity Honesty Open-mindedness and Skepticism Creativity

C. Curiosity Successful scientists are excited and

eager to learn about the world around them. They work on a problem until it is solved.

D. Honesty A good scientists always reports their

findings truthfully. This is especially important when a scientists results go against what has already been found.

E. Open-Mindedness and Skepticismi. Scientists need to be capable of accepting new and different ideas.

ii. They also need to make sure that are skeptical, meaning having an attitude of doubt.

f. Creativity Scientists need to come up with new

ways to try and solve problems and produce new things.

Summary- Complete the following sentence starters for your summary. Scientists investigate the natural world

by… Scientists use five skills to learn about

the world. They are… Successful scientists possess five

attitudes. They are…

Review: What are the skills that scientists use? How are observations and inferences

different? What attitudes will help scientists be

successful? Why is it important for scientists to

balance open-mindedness and skepticism? How do scientists investigate the natural

world?

Resource The Nature of Science and Technology.

Chapter One, Section One: Thinking Like a Scientist. (pages 6-12)

All pictures taken from Microsoft Clipart