Chapter 1: SCIENTIFIC THINKING
Learning Target
Lesson 1
I can identify skills
scientists use to learn
about the world…
Vocabulary Word
Definition
Facts or Examples
science
a way of learning about
the natural world
observing
using one or more of your
senses to gather
information
scientists gather
information & explore the
natural world using
different science skills
(observing, inferring,
predicting, classifying,
evaluating, making
models & conducting
scientific investigations
senses = sight, sound, taste,
smell, touch, etc…
quantitative
observation
observations that deal
with numbers, or
amounts
examples = measuring
height, weight or noticing
how many cars are
parked on street
qualitative
observation
observations that deal
with descriptions that
cannot be expressed in
numbers
examples = a bird is blue
or a watermelon tastes
sweet
inferring
when you explain or
interpret the things you
observe
is NOT guessing
is based on reasoning of
what you already know
and assumptions you
make based on
observations
what is happening or has
happened
Symbol/Picture
predicting
classifying
making a statement or a
claim about what will
happen in the future
based on past
experiences or evidence
what will happen
the grouping together of
items that are alike in
some ways
all socks in a drawer
all 6th graders in a school
all red items in the room
making models
creating representations
of complex items or
processes
examples = maps, math
equations, computer
programs
help people study things
that can’t be observed
directly
Lesson 2
I can describe the
attitudes, or habits of
mind for thinking
scientifically, ethically,
and without bias…
skepticism
having an attitude of
doubt
Scientific thinking involves
characteristics such as
curiosity, creativity, openmindedness, skepticism,
awareness of bias, honesty
and ethics.
prevents scientists from
accepting ideas that are
presented without enough
evidence or that may be
untrue
I can describe
scientific reasoning
and explain how it is
used…
ethics
the rules that enable
people to know right
from wrong
personal bias
if a person’s likes and
dislikes influence how he
or she thinks about
something
cultural bias
when the culture in
which a person grows up
affects the way the
person thinks
experimental
bias
a mistake in the design of
an experiment that
makes a certain results
more likely
scientists must consider the
effects their research will
have on people and the
environment and make
decisions only after
considering the risks and
benefits to living things &
the environment
example = if you like the
taste of milk you might
think everyone also likes
the taste of milk, too
example = a culture that
regards milk as a food just
for babies might overlook
the nutritional benefits of
drinking milk in later life
example = comparing
health effects of drinking
low-fat vs. regular milk.
both drink only this milk for
a month, but what if one
group had been less
healthy before the
experiment – your results
would be biased
scientific reasoning
requires a logical way of
thinking based on
gathering and evaluating
evidence
Lesson 3
I can explain what
scientific inquiry is and
how it involves posing
questions and
developing
hypotheses…
objective
when you make
decisions and draw
conclusions based on
available evidence
subjective
when personal feelings
affect how you make a
decision or reach a
conclusion
deductive
reasoning
a way to explain things
by starting with a general
idea and then applying
the idea to specific
observation
a process:
1ststate general idea
2nd relate general idea to
a specific case working on
3rd reach a conclusion
inductive
reasoning
uses specific
observations to make
generalizations
(opposite of deductive
reasoning)
scientific inquiry
the diverse ways in which
scientists study the
natural world and
propose explanations
based on the evidence
they gather
Begins with a question
about an observation.
Because others may have
asked similar questions,
you should do research to
find what information is
already known about the
topic before you go on
with your investigation.
hypothesis
a possible answer to a
scientific question
a hypothesis is NOT a fact!
a hypothesis must be
testable – researchers must
be able to carry out
investigations and gather
evidence that will either
support or disprove the
hypothesis
I can explain how to
design and conduct
an experiment so that
it uses sound scientific
principles…
variables
factors that can change
in an experiment
independent
variable
a factor that is purposely
changed to test a
hypothesis
dependent
variable
a factor that may
change in response to
the independent
variable
controlled
experiment
an experiment in which
only one variable is
changed at a time
I can differentiate
between a scientific
theory and a scientific
law…
data
the facts, figures and
other evidence gathered
through qualitative and
quantitative observations
once data has been
collected it needs to be
interpreted – graphs can
reveal patterns and trends
in your data
scientific theory
is a well-tested and
widely accepted
explanation of
observations and
experimental results
scientific laws
a statement that
describes what scientists
expect to happen every
time under a particular
set of conditions
scientists are constantly
testing scientific theories. If
new observations or
experiments do not
support a theory, then the
theory is changed or
thrown out.
describe observed
patterns in nature without
trying to explain those
patterns
Learning Targets for Chapter 1
Lesson 1
I can identify skills scientists use to learn about the world…
Scientists use skills such as observing, inferring, predicting, classifying, evaluating and making models to study the world.
Lesson 2
I can describe the attitudes, or habits of mind for thinking scientifically, ethically, and without bias…
Scientists posses certain important attitudes including, curiosity, honesty, creativity, open-mindedness, skepticism, good
ethics, and awareness of bias.
I can describe scientific reasoning and explain how it is used…
Scientific reasoning requires a logical way of thinking based on gathering and evaluating evidence.
Lesson 3
I can explain what scientific inquiry is and how it involves posing questions and developing hypotheses…
Scientific inquiry refers to the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the
evidence they gather.
I can explain how to design and conduct an experiment so that it uses sound scientific principles…
An experiment must follow sound scientific principles for its results to be valid.
I can differentiate between a scientific theory and a scientific law…
Unlike a theory, a scientific law describes an observed pattern in nature without attempting to explain it.