Grade 4 Nature of Science

Big Idea 1: The Practice of Science

MARY TWEEDY, CURRICULUM SUPPORT SPECIALIST – SCIENCEKEISHA KIDD, CURRICULUM SUPPORT SPECIALIST – SCIENCE

DR. MILLARD LIGHTBURN, DISTRICT SUPERVISOR

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCEOFFICE OF ACADEMICS AND TRANSFORMATION

OFFICE OF ACADEMICS AND TRANSFORMATION

Practicing Science

What is Science?

WHAT DO ALL SCIENTISTS DO?

1. Look/watch things with a purpose

2. Think ahead about what might happen

3. Use tools to make precise or specific information with numbers

4. Put things into definite categories by common properties

5. Use reasoning to draw conclusions

6. Describe and share information with others

Process Skills:Observe

Predict

Measure

Classify

Infer

Communicate

Scientists at Work

Scientists use measurement tools to make observations

that involve numbers or quantities.

Scientists at Work: Measurement Stations

How do Scientists get precise or specific size information about

objects?

Scientists Use Measurement Tools

Name of Tool Use of Tool(Quantitative Observation)

Metric Units

Ruler, tape measure, meter stick

How do Scientists Make Observations?

Scientists at Work – They… • look closely at something• use any of their five senses to • collect information• make qualitative observations• use measurement tools to collect information • make quantitative observations

Scientists at Work:Making Observations Lab

Making Observations LabReflection Questions

1. Which of the senses was best for making observations about the candy? Explain your answer.

2. Is the sense listed above always the best one to use? Why or why not? Give reasons to support what you think.3. Use evidence to explain why using tools to make observations is useful to scientists. 4. Based on your observations, write at least three new questions you could ask about the candy.

Scientists at Work: What do you see when you observe the apple?

• Write in your notebook.

Look over your list. Are they all observations?Remember, observations use the senses to gather information. Is there anything on the list that is what you think or infer?

Observations

Compare and Contrast Observation

To infer is to use observations to reach a conclusion based on evidence.

OpinionA personal belief that does not need proof.

Inferences

To observe is to look closely at something using any of the five senses and/or measurement tools.

Senses Inferences

Observations Versus Inferences

Make Five Observations Make Five Inferences

Scientists at Work: Write one observation, one inference and one opinion

about what you see in the photo.

Scientists at Work: Classify Objects

Look at the shells in this photograph. What are some ways you could group them by their properties?

1. You and a partner get a set of objects.2. Identify properties they share.3. Organize them into categories by ways they are similar or related.4. Share how your classification system with another pair of students. 5. Ask them to infer how you classified the objects.6. Together, try other ways to classify the objects.7. Discuss when each method could be useful.

Classify Objects

Scientists Communicate

in Many Ways

• Giving talks• Sharing drawing• Making posters• Making charts or graphs• Writing papers or

articles

• Telephoning• Emailing• Texting• Blogging• Body Language• Using Models• Message boards

List several ways to communicate. What did you write?

A. Putting things into definite categories by common propertiesB. Looking/watching things with a purpose

C. Using reasoning to draw conclusions

D. Describing and sharing information with others

E. Thinking ahead about what might happenF. Using tools to make precise or specific information with numbers

1. Observing

2. Predicting

3. Measuring

4. Classifying

5. Inferring

6. Communicating

Practicing Science Processes Match Up

Brain Check Quiz1. Collecting information using the senses2. To put thing in groups3. Collecting information using measurement tools4. The sharing of information5. An idea or a conclusion based on an observation6. The study of the natural world7. A personal belief or judgment8. Facts and information collected

A. evidence B. scienceC. qualitative observationsD. quantitative observationsE. inferenceF. opinionG. classifyH. communication

Apply Concepts

1. Compare these two animals. List how they look similar and different.

2. Imagine you are on a camping trip. Upon waking up you notice a garbage can tipped over outside your cabin. Plastic bags are torn open. What could you infer?