Nature of Science Unit Vocab

Scientific Methods

• Ways that scientists perform investigations.
• A procedure carried out to carefully observe, study, or test something in order to learn more about it.
• A type of scientific investigation where all conditions are carefully controlled
• Are used when scientists cannot experiment on the real thing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Investigation

• A procedure carried out to carefully observe, study, or test something in order to learn more about it.
• Anything in the experiment that can be changed.
• Are used when scientists cannot experiment on the real thing.
• When an experiment can be repeated by others with the same or similar results.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Experiment

• A type of scientific investigation where all conditions are carefully controlled
• A procedure carried out to carefully observe, study, or test something in order to learn more about it.
• Anything in the experiment that can be changed.
• Are used when scientists cannot experiment on the real thing.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-2

Models

• Are used when scientists cannot experiment on the real thing.
• Something that you find out by using your senses.
• The group in an experiment that is not tested. All experimental groups are compared to the control group.
• Anything in the experiment that can be changed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Repeated Observations

• Are used to study processes in nature that they can observe but cannot control.
• The setup in a controlled experiment that serves as the comparison group for all other setups.

• A type of scientific investigation where all conditions are carefully controlled
• The group in an experiment that is not tested. All experimental groups are compared to the control group.

Control Group

• The setup in a controlled experiment that serves as the comparison group for all other setups.
• Any condition that can be changed in an experiment.

• A procedure carried out to carefully observe, study, or test something in order to learn more about it.
• Are used when scientists cannot experiment on the real thing.

Variable

• Any condition that can be changed in an experiment.
• Based on truth or fact.
• Are used when scientists cannot experiment on the real thing.
• A personal belief or judgment that does not need to be backed up by evidence.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

Conclusions

• Statements that sum up what you have learned from a scientific investigation.
• A personal belief or judgment that does not need to be backed up by evidence.
• Information that is gathered by using the 5 senses (smell, touch, taste, sound, and sight).
• Information collected during a scientific investigation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-3

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

Observations

• Information that is gathered by using the 5 senses (smell, touch, taste, sound, and sight).
• Statements that sum up what you have learned from a scientific investigation.
• A personal belief or judgment that does not need to be backed up by evidence.
• Information collected during a scientific investigation.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Evidence

• Information collected during a scientific investigation.
• Information that is gathered by using the 5 senses (smell, touch, taste, sound, and sight).
• Statements that sum up what you have learned from a scientific investigation.
• A personal belief or judgment that does not need to be backed up by evidence.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-5