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Investigate –
Before the lab answer the following questions. I want to know what you think you know,
so you do not need to research the answers…yet.
1. How many different kinds of Earth scientist are there?
2. What is the scientific method?
3. What is the difference between a physical model and a mathematical model?
Read page 4 in your science book.
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4.
Put on a one of latex glove.
Reach into the cup, but don’t look inside it.
Feel the objects inside.
Try to identify what they are, your lab partner will write your answers on your
paper.
5. Then switch and let your lab partner feel, while you write.
6. Pour out the cup and see what was inside.
7. Record your answers next to your guesses.
Your guess
What was actually inside
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Now answer the following questions, using complete sentences.
a. Were you correct in figuring out what was in the cup?
b. Which items confused you, and why?
c. What characteristics of the items were you unable to identify while they were in the
cup?
d. Which of the five senses were needed to identify the items in the cup?
e. What does the glove between the items in the cup and your hand represent?
f. How does this activity compare with the challenges for scientists who study the Earth?
g. Think about the types of things Earth scientist might study, would they ever get to
“open the cup?”