SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS

Observe Classify

Measure Infer Predict

Credits Extensions About the Author

Science is more than a collection of facts.

Learning the process skills is preparation for becoming a scientist.

Process skills are the tools scientists use to “know” about the world.

Click on the links below to get started.

OBSERVATIONObservation is the process of using

the senses to determine properties of an object or event.

Click on the pictures.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

The creature has 5 eyes.

The baby is walking.

The car is orange.

Sample observations using sight:

WHAT DO YOU SMELL?Sample observations using smell:

The fruit smells sweet.

The coffee smells strong.

The flowers are fragrant.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL?Sample observations using touch:

The scissors are sharp.

The cat is soft.

The soap is slippery.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

The girl is laughing.

The audience is clapping.

Someone flushed the toilet.

Click the pictures to hear sounds:

WHAT DO YOU TASTE?

The watermelon is sweet.

The chili is spicy.

The milk is sour.

CLASSIFICATIONThe process of grouping or ordering objects or

events into categories based on properties or criteria.

Example: Place all leaves having a certain vein pattern into a one group.

Use of a dichotomous key is helpful in classifying to identify an object.

DICHOTOMOUS KEYA dichotomous key is an identification tool that uses paired statements to assist a person in learning the identity of an object.

A dichotomous key is a listing of characteristics, such as structure and behavior, organized in such a way that an organism can be identified or classified.

Think of a dichotomous key as a type of scavenger hunt.

Interactive dichotomous keyExample of dichotomous key

After linking to the Web, click the back button or close the browser.

DICHOTOMOUS KEY EXAMPLE

1. a. tail fins are horizontal—whale………………….go to 2 b. tail fins are vertical—fish……………………….go to 32. a. has teeth or tusk—toothed whale………………..go to 4 b. has no teeth………………………...BALEEN WHALE3. a. has gill slits behind mouth—shark…….………...go to 5 b. has no gill slits……………………..NONSHARK FISH4. a. black with white underside………….KILLER WHALE b. tusk, gray with dark spots………………....NARWHAL5. a. head is hammershaped……..HAMMERHEAD SHARK b. tail is half the body length……….THRESHER SHARK

MEASUREMENT…..using both standard and nonstandard

measures or estimates to describe the dimensions of an object or event

…..comparing an unknown quantity with a known quantity

Measurements are to be recorded in an orderly and systemic fashion with labeled units of measure.

Click to learn more about measurement

tools.

MEASUREMENT TOOLSClick each graphic to find out more.

Length – linear measurement base unit : meter

Volume – capacity base unit : liter

Temperature – hot/cold base unit : Celsius

Weight – mass base unit : gram

After linking to the Web, click the back button or close the browser.

INFERENCEThe process of drawing a conclusion about a specific event based on observations and data; may include cause and effect relationships.

Examples of inference

Your turn to try

INFERENCE EXAMPLES….saying a person who used the

pencil made a lot of mistakes because the eraser was well worn.

….saying that a train is coming because the cross gate is down.

MAKING INFERENCESRead the paragraph then answer the questions.

Tommy and Johnny were hot and sweaty as they sat outside the principal’s office. Dirt smeared both of their faces. They could hear the teacher’s voice as she gave Mr. Jones her account of what happened. Tommy sneered at Johnny and Johnny returned an angry glare. As Miss Green left Mr. Jones’ office, the boys hung their heads so they wouldn’t have to look

her in the eye.

From the paragraph, you can INFER that……a. The boys are best friends.b. The boys had disappointed their teacher.c. The principal was a nice man.

ANSWER

Click to hear the paragraph.

ANSWER: BTommy and Johnny had disappointed their

teacher.

What are the clues?We know the boys are mad at each other because Tommy sneered at Johnny and he returned an angry glare.We can guess they had been fighting because dirt smeared their faces and they were sitting outside the principal’s office.

The BIGGEST CLUE is the last sentence: the boys hung their heads so they didn’t have to look her in the eye.

PREDICTINGThe process of forming an idea of an expected result—not a guess– but a belief of what will occur based on present knowledge, observations, and inferences.

Example: Predicting the height of a plant in two weeks time based on a graph of its growth during the previous four weeks.

Real World Connection Activity

WHO USES PREDICTIONS?

Meteorologist –uses weather trends of the past to predict today’s weather.

Financial advisor – predicts which investments will be profitable.

Doctors – make predictions of a patient’s future well being/health.

ACTIVITYWhat will a Magnet Attract?

Predict which objects you think the magnet will attract.

Test your predictions with a magnet.

CREDITSThe following resources were used to create this project for graphics, animation, and sound.http://www.clipsahoy.com/

http://www.gif.com/http://www.gifanimations.comhttp://school.discovery.com/http://www.frogstar.com/wav/effects.asphttp://www.animatedgif.nethttp://www.bellsnwhistles.com/Dichotomous key: http://www.harcourtschool.com/glossary/science/define/gr6/dichot_key6a.html

Background music: Slide 1 :“I Wish it Would Rain” Temptations Slide 13: “Don’t Ask Me Why” Eurythmics

I followed the fair use guidelines for the graphics and sounds used in this project.

EXTENSIONS

For more activities using the science process skills, visit these sites:

http://www.microbeworld.org/mlc/gifs/activities/pgs1-6.pdf

http://www.middleschoolscience.com/shoe.pdf

http://nerds.unl.edu/Pages/preser/sec/skills/dkeys.html

http://www.aaamath.com/mea.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/3804/

http://www.brainpop.com/science/matter/measurement/index.weml