What is
Science?
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF SCIENCE?
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Investigate and understand the natural
world; explain events, and use those
explanations to make predictions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXf7AJZ73A
Thursday 9/8/15
Learning Target:
Students will know the 8 characteristics of
life.
Learning Outcome:
Understand and apply the 8 characteristics
of life by completing the “Create-A-Creature”
project.
Is it Alive?
Mr. Maher’s New Pet
• In your notes write down what you observe
about Mr. Mahler’s new pet. Be detailed in
describing what you see. If you must, draw a
picture.
• Share your observations with your
neighbor.
• In your opinion is Mr. Mahler’s pet alive?
What is Alive?
• How do you decide if
something is alive? How do you
know?
• Take a minute and write down
your thoughts.
What makes something a living
organism?
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Biology is the study
of living organisms
Living things share
eight
characteristics
1. Living things are
made up of cells.
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Unicellular
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One cell
Multicellular
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Many cells
Humans have over
85 different types of
cells!
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2. Living things
reproduce.
Sexual – 2 different cells
unite
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Asexual – single parent, cell
divides in half (bacteria)
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3. Living things are
based on a universal
genetic code.
DNA: deoxyribonucleic
acid
4. Living things grow
and develop.
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differentiation – cells
look different and
perform different
functions.
Nerve cells, muscle
cells, skin cells, liver
cells
5. Living things obtain and use materials
and energy.
Metabolism – the building up or breaking
down materials to carry out life processes.
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6. Living things respond to their
environment.
Stimulus – a signal to which an organism responds.
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Examples: Temperature, Light
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7. Living things maintain a stable internal
environment.
Homeostasis – the ability to keep internal
conditions constant.
8. Living things, taken as a group, change over
time.
●
Evolution – change over time.
Thursday 9/10/15
Learning Target:
Students will know and apply the principles
of designing an experiment.
Learning Outcome:
Complete the Pillbug Lab Write-Up including
drawing of pillbug, graphing, reliability and
validity.
WHAT DO WE START WITH?
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A question.
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A problem.
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Some event or
phenomena that needs
an explanation.
SO NOW WE HAVE QUESTION/PROBLEM…HOW DO WE
FIND THE ANSWER?
●
Scientific Method (list
and explain the steps)
● Identify problem
● Write a research question
● Write a hypothesis that
ANSWERS the question
● Explain the procedure to test
the hypothesis
● Display and explain results,
write observations
● Write conclusions of
observation and results
INFERENCE VS. OBSERVATION
●Observation: “viewing” a situation.
●Incorrect - the burning bag smelled nasty
●Correct - the burning bag smelled similar to rotten
eggs
●Inference: Logical interpretation based
on prior knowledge/experience.
●Observation: The grass on the school’s front
lawn is wet.
●Inference: It rained. A dog urinated on the
grass.
YOU HEAR THE SCHOOL FIRE ALARM.
●Observation:
●Inference:
2 TYPES OF OBSERVATIONS:
1. Qualitative: Non-numerical observations
(color, texture)
2. Quantitative: Numerical observations (5
spots, 5’ 8” tall, 3 toes
●
Designing an experiment
1. Ask a question
2. Form a hypothesis
2 requirements: prediction & reason
3. Set up a controlled experiment
manipulated – variable that is changed
●responding – variable that reacts to the change
●controlled – variables (need 2) that stay the same
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4. Collect Data
5. Record and Analyze Results
6. Draw a Conclusion
7. Publish/Repeat experiment
Theory vs. Law
●Theory: Well-tested explanation, but not
proven. Not a fact.
●
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Atomic Theory
Cell Theory
Evolutionary Theory
●Law: Scientific fact that is universally
agreed upon.
I have a problem…
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Problem: My car won’t start.
Design an experiment to figure out how I
can discover why my car won’t start.
●
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Write a question, hypothesis, and a brief
procedure
What will the results show us? What is our
conclusion?
Friday 9/16/15
Learning Target:
Students will know the different parts of
the light microscope as well as how to use it.
Learning Outcome:
Complete the microscope lab.
Microscopes!
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A device we use to magnify images we can’t see
with our eyes
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Light – magnify by focusing visible light
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Samples are placed on slides to be observed
Electron – magnify by focusing beams of electrons.
Require a vacuum to operate so they can only look at
preserved specimens.
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Scanning electron microscope (SEM) – electrons scan the
surface. 3-D images
Transmission electron microscope –electrons shine through
a specimen. Internal detail.
Microscope Examples
Can you identify which type of microscope took pictures A-F?
A-D Scanning Electron Microscope
E Transmission Electron Microscope
F Light Microscope