Doing ScienceDoing Science

The Process of Scientific The Process of Scientific InquiryInquiry

Lesson 1: Inquiring MindsLesson 1: Inquiring MindsGenerate listsGenerate lists

What is Science? What is Science?

How do scientists go How do scientists go about their work? (How do about their work? (How do they investigate things?)they investigate things?)

Investigating the Mystery Investigating the Mystery CubeCube

What questions do you have What questions do you have about the cube? (at least two)about the cube? (at least two)

DO NOTDO NOT touch or move the touch or move the cube at all!!! cube at all!!!

Develop an explanation of Develop an explanation of what is on the bottom of the what is on the bottom of the

cube and make sure it is based cube and make sure it is based on on evidenceevidence..

What do we mean by evidence?What do we mean by evidence? Evidence refers to observations or the Evidence refers to observations or the

results of experimentsresults of experiments How do you think an explanation based on How do you think an explanation based on

evidence is different from other evidence is different from other explanations?explanations? Evidence-based explanations supply a Evidence-based explanations supply a

reason for the explanationreason for the explanation Such a reason (evidence) is objective and Such a reason (evidence) is objective and

does not merely reflect a personal does not merely reflect a personal preferencepreference

Evidence provided by one source can be Evidence provided by one source can be verified by another sourceverified by another source

Make and Share observations Make and Share observations about the cube and develop an about the cube and develop an

answer to the question:answer to the question:What is on the bottom of the What is on the bottom of the

cube?cube? Record all observations and Record all observations and

conclusionsconclusions Share as a classShare as a class

An explanation is strengthened by being An explanation is strengthened by being supported by more than one type of supported by more than one type of observation or line of reasoningobservation or line of reasoning

Are you convinced that your answer is Are you convinced that your answer is correct? Why or why not. Your answer correct? Why or why not. Your answer must be consistent with the evidencemust be consistent with the evidence

Can you think of any evidence that Can you think of any evidence that would contradict your answer?would contradict your answer?

How was your investigation of the cube How was your investigation of the cube similar to a scientific investigation?similar to a scientific investigation? Did you make observations?Did you make observations? Did you reach explanations based on Did you reach explanations based on

evidence?evidence?

Do all scientific Do all scientific experiments require experiments require

laboratory experiments?laboratory experiments? No, sometimes the phenomenon No, sometimes the phenomenon

being studied can not be being studied can not be manipulatedmanipulated Scientists rely on observations and Scientists rely on observations and

measurements that address the measurements that address the questionquestion

Examples: behavioral sciences (influence of Examples: behavioral sciences (influence of various factors on nutrition and physical various factors on nutrition and physical activity); ecological and population studies; activity); ecological and population studies; disease patternsdisease patterns

Investigating the Biological Investigating the Biological BoxBox

DO NOTDO NOT touch or move the cube at touch or move the cube at

all!!!all!!! Make and Share observations about Make and Share observations about

the cube and develop an answer to the the cube and develop an answer to the question:question:What is on the bottom of the What is on the bottom of the cube?cube?

Record observations and evidence that Record observations and evidence that supports your answersupports your answer

Share with the classShare with the class

Biological Box Biological Box ExperimentExperiment

Select Select oneone corner of the bottom face corner of the bottom face your team would like to seeyour team would like to see

One student will carefully slide the One student will carefully slide the box across the table using a ruler box across the table using a ruler until the corner extends until the corner extends no more no more thanthan 2 centimeters2 centimeters off of the table off of the table

Another student will then glance up Another student will then glance up at the exposed corner and at the exposed corner and shareshare his his or her observations with teammatesor her observations with teammates

Share with classShare with class

What could be on the bottom?What could be on the bottom? How was the experience with the How was the experience with the

cubes similar to the process that cubes similar to the process that scientists use to learn about the scientists use to learn about the natural world?natural world? Identify QuestionsIdentify Questions Use of tools to gather, analyze, and Use of tools to gather, analyze, and

interpret datainterpret data Develop descriptions, explanations, Develop descriptions, explanations,

predictionspredictions CommunicateCommunicate

Science StarterBriefly explain the difference

between a hypothesis and a theory.

A hypothesis is a testable statement about the natural world that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations. While a theory is a well supported explanation of the natural world that incorporates tested hypotheses, laws, and inferences.

Lesson 2: Working with Lesson 2: Working with QuestionsQuestions

Why do you ask questions?Why do you ask questions? To get answers or to get more To get answers or to get more

informationinformation To a scientist, what makes a good To a scientist, what makes a good

question a good question?question a good question? Good questions do not ask about Good questions do not ask about

something really obvious, ask only something really obvious, ask only about things that are real, or allow us to about things that are real, or allow us to gain necessary informationgain necessary information

What are some questions that What are some questions that are not suitable for a scientific are not suitable for a scientific

investigation?investigation? Personal PreferencePersonal Preference Moral ValuesMoral Values SupernaturalSupernatural Phenomena that cannot be measuredPhenomena that cannot be measured

Name:Name: Date:Date:Guidelines for good questionsGuidelines for good questions Lab Partners:Lab Partners:

Testable questions…Testable questions… Ask about objects, organisms & events in the Ask about objects, organisms & events in the

natural worldnatural world Answered by investigations that involve Answered by investigations that involve

experiments, observations, or surveys experiments, observations, or surveys Answered by collecting & analyzing evidence Answered by collecting & analyzing evidence

that is that is measurablemeasurable Relate to scientific ideas not to personal Relate to scientific ideas not to personal

preference or moral valuespreference or moral values Do not relate to the supernatural or to Do not relate to the supernatural or to

nonmeasurable phenomenanonmeasurable phenomena

How do we ask questions How do we ask questions the way scientists do?the way scientists do?

Look at the sheet “Working with Look at the sheet “Working with Questions”Questions” Identify the Identify the twotwo questions that are not good questions that are not good

questions because they involve either questions because they involve either moral moral valuesvalues or or personal preferencepersonal preference

Rephrase these two questions so that they Rephrase these two questions so that they ask a good question-make them ask a good question-make them measurablemeasurable

Rephrase the other questions so that they Rephrase the other questions so that they ask good questions-use the previous criteriaask good questions-use the previous criteria

Share your questionsShare your questions

HomeworkHomework

Read each of the 3 lettersRead each of the 3 letters Select Select oneone letter and develop letter and develop twotwo scientific scientific

questionsquestions that relate to the point of view that relate to the point of view expressed in the letterexpressed in the letter

For For eacheach question, question, describedescribe an investigation an investigation and the and the evidenceevidence that could be used to that could be used to answer itanswer it

One story – two questions – two investigationsOne story – two questions – two investigations Look to create questions that meet the Look to create questions that meet the

criteria we identifiedcriteria we identified

Homework ReviewHomework Review Letter 1:Letter 1:

Q: Does food served at Quick and Tasty contain Q: Does food served at Quick and Tasty contain chemicals that can lead to cancer?chemicals that can lead to cancer?

I: Test food from Quick and Tasty for chemicals that I: Test food from Quick and Tasty for chemicals that are associated with cancer.are associated with cancer.

Letter 2:Letter 2: Q: Do obese people select different food items at Q: Do obese people select different food items at

Quick and Tasty compared with people of normal Quick and Tasty compared with people of normal weights?weights?

I: Observe and record the food choices at Quick and I: Observe and record the food choices at Quick and Tasty of obese and normal-weight peopleTasty of obese and normal-weight people

Letter 3:Letter 3: Q: Does a typical meal at Quick and Tasty contain Q: Does a typical meal at Quick and Tasty contain

more calories than recommended for an average more calories than recommended for an average person?person?

I: Determine the number of calories in several of the I: Determine the number of calories in several of the Quick and Tasty meals and compare this with Quick and Tasty meals and compare this with recommended calorie intakesrecommended calorie intakes

Letter 1:Letter 1:Q: Does food served at Quick Q: Does food served at Quick and Tasty contain chemicals and Tasty contain chemicals that can lead to cancer?that can lead to cancer?

I: Test food from Quick and I: Test food from Quick and Tasty for chemicals that are Tasty for chemicals that are associated with cancer.associated with cancer.

Letter 2:Letter 2:Q: Do obese people select Q: Do obese people select different food items at Quick different food items at Quick and Tasty compared with and Tasty compared with people of normal weights?people of normal weights?

I: Observe and record the I: Observe and record the food choices at Quick and food choices at Quick and Tasty of obese and normal-Tasty of obese and normal-weight peopleweight people

Letter 3:Letter 3:Q: Does a typical meal at Quick Q: Does a typical meal at Quick and Tasty contain more calories and Tasty contain more calories than recommended for an than recommended for an average person?average person?

I: Determine the number of I: Determine the number of calories in several of the Quick calories in several of the Quick and Tasty meals and compare and Tasty meals and compare this with recommended calorie this with recommended calorie intakesintakes

Activity 1: Unusual Activity 1: Unusual AbsencesAbsences

Purpose: To carry out a scientific Purpose: To carry out a scientific investigation using materials on the investigation using materials on the web. You will be working as web. You will be working as members of an investigative team members of an investigative team from the local health departmentfrom the local health department

Name: Date: Name: Date: Investigative Report Form Lab Investigative Report Form Lab Partners:Partners:

Testable Question: (skip 3-4 lines)Testable Question: (skip 3-4 lines)

Evidence Collected: (skip 5-6 lines)Evidence Collected: (skip 5-6 lines)

Analysis and Explanation of Analysis and Explanation of Evidence: (skip 8-10 lines)Evidence: (skip 8-10 lines)

Next Questions:Next Questions:

ProcedureProcedure

Click on “Activity 1: Click on “Activity 1: Unusual Absences”Unusual Absences”

Read “You have Read “You have one new mail one new mail message”message”

Read new mail Read new mail messagemessage

Read 1Read 1stst letter from letter from principalprincipal STOP!!!! & STOP!!!! &

Create a testable Create a testable question (in science question (in science notebook)notebook)

Need help? - start Need help? - start with “Are more….?” with “Are more….?” or “Is the…?”or “Is the…?”

Click on link and Click on link and proceed to school proceed to school websitewebsite

Click on “Attendance Click on “Attendance data”data”

Export Data to the Export Data to the health health department’s department’s website for graphic website for graphic formform Click on “Export Click on “Export

Data”Data” Type “cohd.org”Type “cohd.org”

Look at Look at graphs of graphs of data….what data….what do you do you notice?notice?