What is Science?

What is Science?

by Lisa Glionna

Poll

Is science relevant to our everyday lives?

• Yes

• No

Poll

Which of the sciences interests you most?

• Life Science

• Physical Science

• Earth Science

Poll

Which science do you think is the most important?

• Life Science

• Physical Science

• Earth Science

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​What is Science?

• Scientists don't believe that everything happens for a reason in the sense of fate or destiny.

• Instead, they believe that there is an explanation for everything that happens.

• For example, if you asked a scientist why an earthquake happened, he or she would explain to you that pieces of Earth's crust that shift over time, causing movement on land.

• Scientists love asking questions about how and why things happen.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a question a scientist might have an explanation for?

• Why do earthquakes happen?

• How do stars emit light?

• How did the continents form?

• All of the above.

Observation

• In science, questions can be about a specific observation, like when you wonder why a butterfly has colorful wings.

• Questions can also be about solving a specific problem, like when scientists try to figure out how to build a tall building.

• By making observations and learning as much as you can in advance, you'll ask the most useful questions.

Multiple Choice

Making observations

• solves all science problems.

• helps you ask questions.

• lets you build tall buildings.

• explains a butterfly’s colors.

​Hypothesis

• The hypothesis is a statement that describes what you think is going to happen during an experiment.

• Using all the knowledge you have, you make an educated guess about an experiment's outcome.

• When you do the experiment, you will prove or disprove your hypothesis.

Multiple Choice

The hypothesis is a statement that describes what you think is going to happen during an experiment. Using all the knowledge you have, you make an educated guess about an experiment's outcome. When you do the experiment, you will prove or disprove your hypothesis.

Which of the following is an example of a hypothesis?

• If a flower gets more water, then it will grow faster.

• Flowers are pretty when they bloom.

• There are five flower seeds in the flower pot.

• The flower is outside in the sun.

​Hypothesis

• When you do an experiment, you are testing your hypothesis.

• You want to see if what you guessed is true or false.

• Typically, in the setup of an experiment, you try to keep everything consistent (or the same) except for the thing that you want to test, which is called a variable.

• You change the variable to see how it affects the results of the experiment. In the example in the video, Kim and Devon want to test how a plant's environment (in the sunshine or in a dark closet) affects the plant's health.

• They water the plants the same amount because they don't want differences in watering to affect how the plants do.

• They want to test sun exposure, not levels of water.

Multiple Choice

When you do an experiment, you are testing your hypothesis. You want to see if what you guessed is true or false. Typically, in the setup of an experiment, you try to keep everything consistent (or the same) except for the thing that you want to test, which is called a variable. You change the variable to see how it affects the results of the experiment. In the example in the video, Kim and Devon want to test how a plant's environment (in the sunshine or in a dark closet) affects the plant's health. They water the plants the same amount because they don't want differences in watering to affect how the plants do. They want to test sun exposure, not levels of water.

What is the variable Kim and Devon change in their plant experiment?

• the amount of water

• the amount of sun

• the type of plant seed

• the type of soil used

Measurable Data

• While you are doing an experiment, you should record all your observations and any measurable data.

• Measurable data is information that you can put in numbers, like the height of a plant.

• You should also write down what you see, even if it can't be measured in numbers. For example: “The plant's leaves turned yellowish and brittle.” Then, you can use your data to make a conclusion about the experiment.

• If the plant in the closet is dying, then we can conclude that this plant needs sunlight to live.

Multiple Choice

While you are doing an experiment, you should record all your observations and any measurable data. Measurable data is information that you can put in numbers, like the height of a plant. You should also write down what you see, even if it can't be measured in numbers. For example: “The plant's leaves turned yellowish and brittle.” Then, you can use your data to make a conclusion about the experiment. If the plant in the closet is dying, then we can conclude that this plant needs sunlight to live.

Which of the following is not an example of measurable data?

• changes to the plant’s height

• the amount of water

• changes to the plant’s color

• the hours of sunlight a plant receives

​Communicate Results

• ​You may have run a great experiment, but it doesn't mean much unless you share your knowledge with others.

• The scientific community is a big one, and they rely on each other for help.

• There are many publications dedicated to scientists who want to share their experiments and read about what other people have learned through testing.

• Scientific knowledge is bigger than any one scientist, and it expands every day!

• We also use what we have learned, or what other people have learned, to ask different, more refined questions.

• You can come up with new questions based on what you or someone else learned.

​Questions?

References

Adapted from the Flocabulary website at: https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/what-is-science/video/

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