8th Grade Nature of Science Lesson Scientific Inquiry

Nature of Science

The Practice of science

8th Grade Comprehensive Science

Objectives:
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

-Identify what characterizes Science and its methods
- List and compare the methods of Scientific experimentation in different fields of science

- Distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific ideas
- Organize and conduct and an experiment by following prescribed procedures

- Develop a scientific investigation/experiment

Academic Vocabulary

directions

1. In your science notebook, Copy each term
2. write a definition in your own words
3. Draw a picture of each (to help you remember the new term)

Academic Vocabulary

Investigation - a procedure carried out to carefully observe the natural
world; NO hypothesis, “let’s just see what happens!”

Example
what will happen when the marshmallow
Bunnies are added to different liquids?
● no hypothesis
● set up the Investigation and observe
● Record your observations

Academic Vocabulary
Hypothesis- A possible explanation about an observation
that can be tested by scientific investigation.
(Usually in the “If_____, Then_____, Because ____.” format)

Example
If bean plants are given different amounts of fertilizer, then the plants that
receive the most fertilizer each week (10 mL) will grow faster, because they get
more nitrogen when they have fertilizer.

A controlled test
with variables, a

hypothesis, a

control and multiple

trials that can be

replicated and

repeated with same

results.

Not as controlled

with no variables or

hypothesis. Simply

just, “I wonder what

will happen if…”

The Scientific process

A systematic and logical process that

scientists use to solve problems.

Draw and label this diagram

in your notebook.

Note: Sometimes, it doesn’t have to go in this order!

Academic Vocabulary

Control Group

the part of an experiment that you do NOTHING to; it contains
all the same factors and is used as a comparison to the
experimental group.

Academic vocabulary

Repetition - one person conducting the exact experiment over and over
and over again, getting the same or very similar results each time

Academic vocabulary

Replication- when someone else (other than the original researcher)
carries out an experiment exactly and gets the same results over and over
again

Read

Use this

outline to

add one

example to
each part

of the

chart on
the next

slide.

Replication

Repetition

Definition
(in your own words)

Who conducts

Example

Draw & Complete In your Science Notebook

Academic vocabulary

Independent (test) Variable -The
one factor that is changed on
purpose in an experiment

Dependent (outcome) Variable -
The variable that’s being measured
in an experiment; what is being
affected by the change

Academic Vocabulary

Systematic Observation - the act of using one
or more of your senses to gather Information
and take note of What occurs.

Empirical Evidence - data and observations that are
collected through scientific processes (observations,
investigations and experimentation) that help
validate or explain a particular observation

Let’s practice…

1.

In your science notebook, number 1-3. Leave space in
between each.

2.

Read each of the three (3) experimental scenarios and
try to identify the independent, dependent and
control variables.

Experimental Scenario #1

Identify the Following

Independent (test) variable:

Dependent (outcome)
variable:

Control group:

Experimental Scenario #2

Identify the Following

Independent (test) variable:

Dependent (outcome)
variable:

Control group:

Experimental Scenario #3

Identify the Following

Independent (test) variable:

Dependent (outcome)
variable:

Control group:

Multiple Choice

A controlled experiment is designed to test

• The effective one variable on other

• all the variables

• the controlled variables only

Multiple Choice

Repetition is when one scientist

• copies another scientist's experiment.

• bumps into another scientists.

• repeats their own experiment several times.

• clones a T. rex.

Multiple Choice

Replication is when one scientist

• copies another scientist's experiment.

• laughs at another scientist's experiment.

• repeats their own experiment several times.

• clones another scientist.

Multiple Choice

Caira reads in a science journal that replication and repetiton are so important, but she did not understand the  difference between them. Which of the following best explains the two terms?

• Repetition is when a scientist repeats an experiment; replication is when a scientist conducts an experiment on genetic material.
• Repetition is when a scientist does the same experiment a number of times; replication is when other scientists reproduce a scientist’s experiment.
• Repetition is when a scientist publishes in more than one scientific periodical; replication is when another scientist reproduces another scientist’s results.
• Repetition is when a scientist commits an error in an experiment the first time and must repeat it; replication is when a scientist repeats an experiment to make sure it is valid.

Multiple Choice

Daniel and Alex are both scientists. Daniel conducts an experiment testing different fuel sources for cars in the future. Daniel conducts each test three times in order to compare his data. After he finishes the trials, Daniel showed Alex his results from each trial. Alex is confused about Daniel’s results, so he decides to conduct the experiment for himself. Which scientific process did each scientist use?

• Alex and Daniel used each others data to compare their results.

• Alex and Daniel used the same hypothesis to compare their results.

• Daniel used repetition in his experiment while Alex replicated Daniel's experiment

• Daniel used replication in his experiment while Alex used repetition to conduct Daniel's experiment.

Dropdown

What is the dependent variable?

Select answer