Tools of Science

Balance
A tool for measuring mass or weight.
SCIENTIFIC
SCIENTIFIC
LET’S
LET’S
GET
GET

This tool gets its name from the fact that you balance different
things on either side of it to figure out weight.
THE LIVING
WORLD

Calculator
A tool to help you do math.
PHYSICAL
THEPHYSICAL
WORLD
WORLD

Eric wants to know how much a dozen eggs weigh. He weighs

THE

one egg. It is 60 grams. He uses his calculator to help him

figure out 60 grams times 12 eggs. He figures out that a dozen
eggs weigh about 720 grams.
EARTH and SPACE

Camera
A machine that takes pictures.

Alison brings her camera when she walks in the woods. She
takes pictures of birds with her camera.
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 Tools of Science

Chart
A picture that helps you understand information.

SCIENTIFIC

LET’S
GET
In our class, the teacher has a chart where we put the
names of any animals we see on our class walks.

Amphibians Tree frog

THE LIVING
Birds Woodpecker Raven

WORLD
Mammals Deer Fox

Compass

THE PHYSICAL
WORLD
A tool that shows you the direction you are facing.
A compass uses a magnet to tell you where North is.
Once you know where North is, it is easier to figure out
which way you are facing.
EARTH and SPACE
Computer
A machine that helps you find and sort
information.
TOOLS of SCIENCE

I looked for information about tigers on

the computer at school. Then I used the
computer to write a report about tigers.

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 Tools of Science

Graph
A picture that shows how different things are related to each
other.
SCIENTIFIC
SCIENTIFIC
LET’S
LET’S
GET
GET
THE LIVING
WORLD

Hand lens
A pocket tool to help you see small things.

Jake uses a hand lens to look closely at an ant.

PHYSICAL
THEPHYSICAL
WORLD
WORLD
THE

Map
EARTH and SPACE

A picture that helps you understand where things are.

This is a map of North America.

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 Tools of Science

Meter stick
A tool used for measuring width, height, and distance

SCIENTIFIC
in meters.

LET’S
GET
Our teacher used a meter stick to find out how wide
our classroom is.

Microscope

THE LIVING
WORLD
A laboratory tool that helps you see very
small things.

You can only see bacteria if you look at

them with a microscope.

THE PHYSICAL
WORLD
Ruler
A tool that helps you find out how long or tall
something is. It also helps you draw straight lines.

EARTH and SPACE

cm
30 29 28 27 26 25 2 4 2 3 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
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 Tools of Science

Safety goggles
Glasses that protect your eyes.
SCIENTIFIC
SCIENTIFIC
LET’S
LET’S
GET
GET

When we mixed vinegar and water in class, our teacher

made us wear safety goggles. That way, the vinegar
wouldn’t splash into our eyes.
THE LIVING
WORLD

Safety goggles
PHYSICAL
THEPHYSICAL
WORLD
WORLD
THE

Telescope
A tool that helps you see things that are very far
away.
EARTH and SPACE

My dad and I look at stars at night with a

telescope.

Test
TOOLS of SCIENCE

A procedure for finding out more about something.

To figure out if a pile of white stuff is flour or sugar, you

can do a test. Press on the pile. Sugar will feel crunchy.
Flour will feel very soft.

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 Tools of Science

Thermometer
A tool that measures temperature.

SCIENTIFIC

LET’S
GET
THE LIVING
WORLD
THE PHYSICAL
WORLD
Timer
A machine that helps you figure out how long
something takes. EARTH and SPACE

We used a timer to find out how long it takes for water

to boil.
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