What is Science?Discussion Prompts > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

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• Askstudentstodefine“science.”Then,lookupthewordinadictionary.

• Namesomemajorbranchesofscience.(biology,chemistry,physics,astronomy,earthscience)

• Whataresomesubdisciplinesofthesesciences?(e.g.,botanyandzoologywithinbiology)

• Whataresomewaysthemajorbranchesofsciencerelatetoeachother?(e.g.,astronomyusesprinciplesofphysics;biologyandearthsciencesbothexploretheearth’sbiomesandecosystems;chemistryunderliesallareasofscience)

• IntroducetheDeweyDecimalClassificationSystem500s,projectingachartandreviewingatleastthetensgroupingsformajordivisions.Explainhowthesystemhelpsusfindinformationinlibraries.

• Askfordefinitionsof“scientificmethod”or“scientificinquiry.”Explainthatwhilethebasicsofthescientificmethod(theobjective,systematic“hypothesizeandtest”approachtogainingknowledge)arewellknown,thereisn’toneauthoritativesetofstepsthateveryoneaccepts.

• Talkaboutsomeformulationsofscientificsteps,likethoseinThe Magic School Bus and The Science Fair ExpeditionandThink Like a Scientist in the Gym.

• Chooseordevelopasetofstepsfortheclasstouse,andmakeupamnemonicphrasetohelprememberit.

• Endbyreadingthepoem“ScientificMethodattheBat,”fromJonScieszka’sScience Verse.

Dewey 500s Matching Game

Draw a line from the subject in the first column to the appropriate Dewey 500s tens group in the second column.

The life cycle of a sunflower

Volcanoes

Science Encyclopedia

Food chains on the arctic tundra

Cannibal animals

Newton's laws of motion

Saturn's rings

Matter as solids, liquids and gases

Animals of the Mesozoic period

500s

520s

530s

540s

550s

560s

570s

580s

590s

Dewey 500s Matching Game

Draw a line from the subject in the first column to the appropriate Dewey 500s tens group in the second column.

The life cycle of a sunflower

Volcanoes

Science Encyclopedia

Food chains on the arctic tundra

Cannibal animals

Newton's laws of motion

Saturn's rings

Matter as solids, liquids and gases

Animals of the Mesozoic period

500s

520s

530s

540s

550s

560s

570s

580s

590s

ANSWER KEY