Scientific Observations

​Practice of Science - Day 1

​SC.5.N.1.1 Define a problem, use appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations of various types such as systematic observations, experiments requiring the identification of variables, collecting and organizing data, interpreting data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions

​What do scientists do?

​ Nature is full of questions and mysteries.

 Scientists look for answers to questions about the natural world.

​

 Scientists collect clues to nature’s mysteries.

 Scientists try to figure out what the clues mean.

Multiple Choice

Scientists ___________________.

• create charts and graphs

• look for answers to questions about the natural world

• are also medical doctors

• must wear glasses

​What is a scientific question?

​* Many questions that scientists ask begin with What, How, When, Where or Why

• Scientific questions can be answered by gathering observations or measurements, called data

• Some questions are not scientific because they mean different things to different people, no data can be gathered to answer these questions

​​How many rings does Saturn have?

Multiple Choice

Scientific questions can be answered by gathering observations or measurements, called _________.

• observations

• scientists

• experiments

• data

​How does a scientist find clues?

​* Different kinds of scientific questions require different kinds of investigations

• To find out the temperature at which water boils, a scientist would boil water and take the temperature with a thermometer-this can be done very quickly

• To find out if the planet Venus has phases like the moon, a scientist would use a telescope to observe Venus for many months.

​What is the boiling temperature of water?

​Does Venus have phases?

Multiple Choice

Different kinds of ___________ require different kinds of investigations

• people

• scientific questions

• experiments

• scientists

​How does a scientist find clues?

​* Sometimes a scientist predicts the answer to the scientific question, this is called a hypothesis

​* A scientist must design a controlled experiment to test the prediction

​* Scientists must change one variable to see if it affects the experiment the way that was predicted

​* They must compare the results to a control group, a group that did not have the variable changed

​* The scientist gets clues to the answer by comparing the two groups

Multiple Select

What are some things that scientists do to find answers to questions about the natural world?

• Ask questions

• Google it

• Investigate

• Observe

• Experiment

​How do scientists keep records?

​* Scientists keep careful records of their investigations in a journal

​* Scientists record their prediction

​* Scientists carefully describe their procedures

​* Scientists record their observations and the data that they collect

​* Scientists jot down notes about  observations they are curious about, what they might like to do in the future, and other thoughts that they have while doing their investigation

Multiple Choice

Scientists keep careful records of their investigations in ________

• a journal

• their head

• a box

• safe

​How do scientists collect and organize data?

​* Data provides clues to help scientists figure out the answer to their question

​* Scientists keep careful records of their data in their journal

​* Data is recorded on a spread sheet right away

​* Data is recorded even if the scientist thinks that it may be wrong

​* Data must include both numbers and units of measure

Multiple Choice

Data must include ________________.

• numbers

• units of measure

• both numbers and units of measure

• correct information

​How does data provide clues to answer the scientific question?

​* Scientists must try to understand what the data means

​* They make graphs of their data to help them understand the clues

​* Scientists analyze the data to help them explain the answer to their question

Multiple Choice

Scientists _________ the data to help them explain the answer to their question

• record

• analyze

• graph

• eat up

​How does data answer the question?

​*Scientists look for patterns in the data

​* Only accurate  data is good data

*Measuring must be done carefully and correctly

*Trials must be repeated many times in order to find patterns

*Data must be compared to the original prediction

*Clear patterns in the data help to answer the scientific question

​I predicted that aerobic activity would increase heartbeat.  My data supported my prediction! Therefore, the answer to my question is that aerobic activity increases heartbeat!

Drag and Drop

Trials must be ​ ​

Placeholder

many times in order to find patterns

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

repeated

created

corrected

fixed

​Does any data answer the question?

​— Scientists must make sure that their data matches the question that was asked

— If the question asks what kind of seed a canary prefers, the experiment must test different seeds, not different times of feeding the canary

— If a question asks what kind of grass is fastest for soccer, the experiment must test different types of grass, not different balls

​What types of seeds do canaries prefer?

​What type of grass allows a soccer ball to move faster?

Drag and Drop

Scientists must make sure that their ​

Placeholder

matches the question that was asked

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

data

memory

experiment

investigation

​How does use the data to answer the question?

​—A conclusion is an explanation about what the data from an investigation showed. It answers the question

—The conclusion must be based on observations and gathered data

—An inference would be a “possible explanation” based on past experience but NOT on observations.  An inference is NOT a conclusion to a scientific question.

​Conclusion: Running causes heartbeat to rise. The data showed this to be true.

​Inference: I think that running causes the heartbeat to slow down because I always feel tired after PE.

Multiple Choice

Maria is growing four ivy plants on the windowsill in her bedroom. She has noticed that the leaves on two of the plants are wilting and falling off. She has watered those two plants slightly more than the other two. What could Maria do that would help her find a way to help the two plants become healthy?

• move each plant to a different place in her room

• give all of her plants more water and observe and record information about their appearance daily

• buy two new plants and compare them with the plants she already has

• water the two wilting plants less and observe and record information about her plants' appearance each day

Multiple Choice

Which question could be answered by using the scientific steps like planning and carrying out scientific investigations of various types such as systematic observations, experiments requiring the identification of variables, collecting and organizing data, interpreting data in charts, tables, and graphics, analyze information, make predictions, and defend conclusions

• what game will be the most fun to play at recess

• which fertilizer is the most effective to use in your garden

• which book you prefer to read from the reading list

• how a volcano erupts

Multiple Choice

Emma has done the experiment for her science fair project and has collected her data. What should she do next?

• change any of her data that is different from the rest

• analyze her data to draw conclusions

• write a new hypothesis to agree with her data

• estimate some additional data to make her conclusion stronger

Multiple Choice

Josh conducted an experiment using vinegar. Later he wanted to repeat the experiment to see if his results would be the same. However, he could not remember how much vinegar he had used.

What should he have done to be able to repeat his experiment?

• He should have tried a simpler experiment

• He should have used water instead of vinegar

• He should have kept accurate records of his experiment

• He should have done the experiment faster