1 Quarter Week 4 Science 7

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 What is Science?
• It is the systematic study of the structure and
behavior of the physical and natural world through
observation, experimentation, and the testing of
theories against the evidence obtained.
• It is the pursuit and application of knowledge and
understanding of the natural and social world
following a systematic methodology based on
evidence.
• is defined as the observation, identification,
description, experimental investigation, and
theoretical explanation of natural phenomena.
What makes science different from
other disciplines or fields?

Why do we study science?

 SCIENTIFIC
PROCESS
Learning Objectives:
A. Describe the components of a scientific
investigation based on evidence;
B. differentiate the components of the
scientific method;
C. elaborate the important terms upon
conducting a scientific investigation;
What do you think are the essential
steps in starting a scientific
method?
Activity #1 Scientific Method
Introduction to the Scientific Process
• A logical, problem solving
technique
• It is the steps someone takes to
identify a question, develop a
hypothesis, design and carry out
steps or procedures to test the
hypothesis, write down data, and
draw a conclusion.
• In other words, it’s a way to
solve a problem.
 Asking questions
Do plants need water
Does exercise to grow?
make your
heart beat
faster?

All investigations start

with a question !
What question could these children be
investigating?

What are they predicting will happen?

A HYPOTHESIS is the
same thing as a
prediction. It is an
EDUCATED GUESS
or what you think is
going to happen in Example: I think that
your experiment. the metal items will be
the best conductors of
electricity.
 You need to give a
reason why your
hypothesis is correct.
Example: …..because metal
is used in wires in my home.
What are these two finely dressed children
investigating?

What is their HYPOTHESIS?

The next step scientists take is
to create and conduct an
experiment to test their
hypothesis.
 In every experiment, we
change 1 thing, this is
called a variable.

Example: I will only

change the kind of metal used in my experiment to test
which is a better conductor of electricity.
A fair test is when we
keep everything the
same except the Example:
I will only change the
variable. (one thing kind of metal used in my
we change) experiment to test which is a
better conductor of electricity.
 What are these children investigating?

What do you think is their variable? How did they

make it a fair test?
A key to experiments is
observing what happens
and writing it down.
Gathering information or data is very
important. Write it down so it is
readable and makes sense to other
people who read it.
 After the experiment, you need
to write in detail what
happened in your experiment.

Example:
What happened? The materials that were made out of metal made the bulb
light up brightly. However, the materials that were not made out of metal did
not make the bulb light at all.
 Your hypothesis You need to look back at
does not have to
be correct!! your HYPOTHESIS and
see if you were correct!

Example:
Are your results what you predicted?
Yes, I thought that metals would be the best conductors of electricity and the
results of my experiment proved that this was true.
 You need to
explain (give
reasons why)
your hypothesis
was right or Example:
wrong. All of the materials that were
metal made the bulbs light. All of
the materials that weren’t metal
did not, except for the pencil lead.
Once a scientist This is really what we call
verification, or checking things
completes an out to make sure everything is
valid and will happen again and
experiment, they again.

often repeat it to
see if they get the
same findings and
results.
Scientists share their experiments and
findings with others.

Scientists can learn from each

other and often use someone
else’s experiences to help them
with what they are studying or
doing.
So many but yet some are
barely solved….
What problems do you think you
can solve in your community?
 Assessment # 1
1. What do you call a series of logical steps that are followed to
solve a problem?
A. Model method
B. Scientific theory
C. Scientific method
D. Experimental process

2. Which of these is not a step of the scientific method?

A. Hypothesis
B. Experiment
C. Conclusion
D. Plagiary
3. Which question can be a basis for an experiment?
A. Who invented electricity?
B. How long did dinosaurs live on Earth?
C. How many koalas are there in Australia?
D. Does the amount of salt in water affect the
temperature at which it boils?
4. Which is the process of making a statement based on
experimental measurements and observation?
A. Hypothesis B. Experimentation C. Conclusion D.
Theory
5. What is the correct order of the steps in the scientific
method?
A. Make a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, analyze the
results, ask a question, draw conclusions, communicate
results.
B. Ask questions, make a hypothesis, test the
hypothesis, analyze results, draw conclusions,
communicate results.
C. Ask a question, analyze results, make a hypothesis,
test the hypothesis, draw conclusions, communicate
results.
D. Ask a question, make a hypothesis, test hypothesis,
draw conclusions, analyze results, communicate results
 Assessment # 1
1. What do you call a series of logical steps that are followed to
solve a problem?
A. Model method
B. Scientific theory
C. Scientific method
D. Experimental process

2. Which of these is not a step of the scientific method?

A. Hypothesis
B. Experiment
C. Conclusion
D. Plagiary
3. Which question can be a basis for an experiment?
A. Who invented electricity?
B. How long did dinosaurs live on Earth?
C. How many koalas are there in Australia?
D. Does the amount of salt in water affect the
temperature at which it boils?
4. Which is the process of making a statement based on
experimental measurements and observation?
A. Hypothesis B. Experimentation
C. Conclusion D. Theory
5. What is the correct order of the steps in the scientific
method.
A. Make a hypothesis, test the hypothesis, analyze the
results, ask a question, draw conclusions, communicate
results.
B. Ask questions, make a hypothesis, test the
hypothesis, analyze results, draw conclusions,
communicate results.
C. Ask a question, analyze results, make a hypothesis,
test the hypothesis, draw conclusions, communicate
results.
D. Ask a question, make a hypothesis, test hypothesis,
draw conclusions, analyze results, communicate results
Continuation….
Introduction to the Scientific Process
Identify a Gather Formulate a
problem Information hypothesis

Record and Design and

Analyze Data
Organize Data Experiment

Draw Use conclusions to develop a new hypothesis

Conclusions
 What
Howattitudes
does a
What senses
should
person acan an
conduct be
used for observing?
SCIENTIST
observation?
possess?
 Step 1: Identify a Problem
• Observe the world around you

• Using observations, identify a problem you would like to solve

• Example: Why do termites follow the ink line?
• This is a question you DO NOT know the answer to
and can’t look up.
• “Why” and “What would happen if..” are good
beginnings of scientific questions.
 Remember?
Observation Inference
• Uses our senses to gather • A logical interpretation of
information events based on prior
• Qualitative: uses our 5 knowledge or opinion
senses – Educated guess
– The termites follow a circle
made with a blue pen on • Termites follow the blue line
white paper because the like it.
• Quantitative: uses numbers
– 3 termites follow a circular
blue pen line that is 5 cm in
diameter

Do we use observations or inferences when identifying a problem?

Types of Observations
 Activity# 1
The Apple Experiment
Activity # 1 Quali or Quanti?
 QL
QNT
QL
QNT
QNT
QL
QL
QNT
QL
QNT
 Step 2: Gather Information
• Use references to do • Example: Termites
background research – Live underground
– Books – Don’t have compound
– Journals eyes (can only see light
– Magazines and dark)
– Internet
– TV
– Videos
– Interview Experts
www.goldstarexterminators.net
 Step 3: Formulate a Hypothesis
Hypothesis
• Possible answer to a
question that can be tested
• based on observations and
knowledge
• “If” “Then” “Because”
statement
Example: Termites
• Termites:
– I hypothesis that if the
termites follow a dark colored
pen on a dark background
then they follow the dark pen
on a light background
because of the color contrast
since they see light and dark,
but not color.

Do we use observation or inference to

formulate a hypothesis?
 Step 4: Develop an Experiment
Materials: Procedure
• A list of all the things you • Step by step instructions
need • Identifies the variables used
• Supplies in the experiment

How would you describe how to make a Peanut Butter

and Jelly Sandwich to someone who had never done it?

To someone who didn’t know what peanut butter or jelly is?

 Fair Testing
is a test that controls all but one variable when
attempting to answer a scientific question. Only
changing one variable allows the person
conducting the test to know that no other
variable has affected the results of the test.
 Variables: Independent Variable
• The variable I (the scientist) change or
manipulate
• Examples:
– The color of paper under the termites
– The color of pen used
– The brand of pen used
 Variables: Dependent Variable
• Is measured in the experiment
• Changes because of the independent
variable
• “Depends” on the independent variable
• Examples:
– Does the termite follow the line (yes/no)
– How many termites follow the line (whole
number)
– How long do the termites follow the line (time)
 Variables: Constant or Controlled
• All the factors in the
experiments that are kept
the same
• Everything except the
independent variable
• Keeps the experiment ‘fair’
Examples:
• If you test color of paper,
keep the color of pen
constant
• If you test the smell of pen,
keep the color and type of
pen constant (only change
smell)
• The exact termites used
• The time of day and how
long the termites are there
• The shape of the line drawn
 Variables: Constant or Controlled
• The normal condition that you compare the
other conditions to
• Recreate the conditions you first observed
• Example:
– Termites in a Pitri dish on white filter paper and
draw a blue line with a bic pen in the same shape
as before.
Activity #2
Activity #2
The amount of water put into the pot.
Height of the plants as they gain water
Controlled variable:______________
Type of plants

Type of students
Better grades of the students
Subject of reading
Controlled variable:______________

People who are smokers or non smokers

Higher incidence of lung cancer amongst smoker.

Lung cancer disease

Controlled variable:______________

Vitamins of puppies
Weight of puppies
Puppies
Controlled variable:______________

Temperature of water
fast solubility of sugar
Sugar
Controlled variable:______________
 Step 5: Record and Organize Data
• Write all observations and measurements
• Use a table to organize your data
– List your independent variable on the left side
– Record your dependent variables on the right side
• If you have more than one dependent variable, use a new column for each
dependent variable

Independent Variable Dependent Variable:

Did they follow the line?
Blue ink on white paper Yes/No

Blue ink on black paper Yes/No

Which one of these independent variables is the control?

Which part of the independent variable is the constant?

 Step 6: Analyze Data
• “A picture is worth a thousand words”
• Compare and look for trends and patterns
using graphs
 Bar Graph
Used for
categorical data
Number of Termites
 Line Graph
Number of termites on the ink line for 40 seconds
Number of Termites

Line graphs are used

for time interval data
Pie Chart

A Pie Chart
adds up to a whole
– 100% or
all of something
 Step 7: Make Conclusions
• You must repeat the experiment to make the data
valid
• You should run your experiment at least 3 times to
confirm your results
– You can run all the experiments at one time, or run one
after the other
• Each separate experiment is called a Repetition
(or Rep).

How many times?