What is a SCIENTIFIC MODEL?
A scientific model represents objects,
phenomena, and physical processes in a
consistent and logical way.
Scientists develop models about many
different natural phenomena
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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
Can you come up with any examples of some
SCIENTIFIC MODELS?
Hint: What model did you construct last year?
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
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
Does this happen because…
• 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
Examples of scientific PROCESSES you have
participated in:
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Gill Flap/Fish Temperature lab
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Animal Behavior experiments
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Making observations & finding patterns
Making observations, finding patterns and then
developing and testing
Jane Goodall and the chimps
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Making observations, finding patterns in tool making and
then developed ideas about how they were similar to us
Once scientists have TESTED and EXPLAINED the
phenomena, those EXPLANATIONS are called…
SCIENTIFIC MODELS!
SCIENTIFIC MODELS…
A. Explain observations
B. Predict future
observations
C. Be realistic
Examples of SCIENTIFIC MODELS:
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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
Models lead scientists to ask questions
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Diseases caused by bacteria discovered
by scientists
Your ANIMAL BEHAVIOR experiments
Looking back on your animal behavior experiment,
explain in a few sentences any NEW questions you
would now ask after getting your results?
How are models communicated?
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Graphs
How are models communicated?
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Drawings
How are models communicated?
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Equations
2
A=πr
Can you think of any other equations that scientists
and mathematicians use to explain data?
Model vs. Representation
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A model is the IDEA
Graphs, drawings and equations are the
REPRESENTATION of the model or idea
The Black Box/Mystery Maker Experiment
6th Grade
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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?
How do you decide if a model is “right”?
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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
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Were all of these models of the “Black Box”
equally valid? Let’s discuss.
How do you decide if a model is RIGHT?
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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
Can scientists change their SCIENTIFIC MODELS?
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Did you change your Black Box model?
Scientists DO change their models to better fit the
criteria of the scientific model
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Explain observations
Predict future phenomena
Be realistic
IT’S YOUR TURN TO BE THE SCIENTIST!
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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).