Grade 4
Nature of Science
Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science
MARY TWEEDY, CURRICULUM SUPPORT SPECIALIST – SCIENCE
KEISHA KIDD, CURRICULUM SUPPORT SPECIALIST – SCIENCE
DR. MILLARD LIGHTBURN, DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
OFFICE OF ACADEMICS AND TRANSFORMATION
OFFICE OF ACADEMICS AND TRANSFORMATION
Practicing Science
What is Science?
WHAT DO ALL SCIENTISTS DO?
Scientists at Work
Process Skills:
Observe
Predict
Measure
Classify
Infer
Communicate
1. Look/watch things with a purpose
2. Think ahead about what might happen
3. Use tools to make precise or specific
information with numbers
4. Put things into definite categories by common
properties
5. Use reasoning to draw conclusions
6. Describe and share information with others
How do Scientists get precise or
specific size information about
objects?
Scientists use measurement tools
to make observations
that involve numbers or quantities.
Scientists at Work:
Measurement Stations
Scientists Use
Measurement Tools
Name of Tool
Use of Tool
(Quantitative Observation)
Ruler, tape measure, meter
stick
Metric Units
How do Scientists Make
Observations?
Scientists at Work – They…
• look closely at something
• use any of their five senses to
• collect information
• make qualitative observations
• use measurement tools to collect information
• make quantitative observations
Scientists at Work:
Making Observations Lab
Making Observations Lab
Reflection Questions
1. Which of the senses was best for making
observations about the candy? Explain your answer.
2. Is the sense listed above always the best one to use?
Why or why not? Give reasons to support what you
think.
3. Use evidence to explain why using tools to make
observations is useful to scientists.
4. Based on your observations, write at least three new
questions you could ask about the candy.
Scientists at Work:
What do you see when you observe the apple?
• Write in your notebook.
Look over your list. Are they all observations?
Remember, observations use the senses to gather
information.
Is there anything on the list that is what you think
or infer?
Senses
Observations
Inferences
Compare and Contrast
Observation
Inferences
To observe is to look
closely at something
using any of the five
senses and/or
measurement tools.
To infer is to use
observations to reach a
conclusion based on evidence.
Opinion
A personal belief that does
not need proof.
Observations Versus Inferences
Make Five Observations
Make Five Inferences
Scientists at Work:
Write one observation, one inference and one opinion
about what you see in the photo.
Scientists at Work: Classify Objects
Look at the
shells in this
photograph.
What are some
ways you could
group them by
their properties?
Classify Objects
1. You and a partner get a set of objects.
2. Identify properties they share.
3. Organize them into categories by ways they are
similar or related.
4. Share how your classification system with
another pair of students.
5. Ask them to infer how you classified the objects.
6. Together, try other ways to classify the objects.
7. Discuss when each method could be useful.
Scientists Communicate
in Many Ways
List several ways to communicate.
What did you write?
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Giving talks
Sharing drawing
Making posters
Making charts or graphs
Writing papers or
articles
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Telephoning
Emailing
Texting
Blogging
Body Language
Using Models
Message boards
Practicing Science Processes Match Up
1. Observing
2. Predicting
A. Putting things into definite
categories by common properties
B. Looking/watching things with a
purpose
3. Measuring
C. Using reasoning to draw conclusions
4. Classifying
D. Describing and sharing information
with others
5. Inferring
E. Thinking ahead about what might happen
F. Using tools to make precise or specific
information with numbers
6. Communicating
Brain Check Quiz
1. Collecting information using
the senses
2. To put thing in groups
3. Collecting information using
measurement tools
4. The sharing of information
5. An idea or a conclusion
based on an observation
6. The study of the natural
world
7. A personal belief or
judgment
8. Facts and information
collected
A. evidence
B. science
C. qualitative
observations
D. quantitative
observations
E. inference
F. opinion
G. classify
H. communication
Apply Concepts
1. Compare these two
animals. List how they look
similar and different.
2. Imagine you are on a
camping trip. Upon waking up
you notice a garbage can
tipped over outside your
cabin. Plastic bags are torn
open. What could you infer?