Introduction to Life Science: Essential Skills for 7th Grade Science Students

1. Chapter 1 7thGrade Science Introduction to Life Science

2. Skills of Science • _______ - a way of learning about the natural world. • _________ - study of living things - ________ • Skills: • __________ • __________ • __________ • _____________ • _____________ Science Life Science biology observing inferring Predicting Classifying Making Models

3. Observing • _________ - using one or more of your senses to gather information • __________________ - include numbers or amounts, measurements. • __________________ - descriptions that cannot be expressed in numbers. • Color - texture • Sour / sweet observing Quantitative observations Qualitative observations

4. Inferences • ________ - when you explain or interpret the things that you observe. • _________ - based on reasoning from what you already know. • Inferences are NOT: • ____________ • _____________ inferring Inferences Wild guesses Always correct

5. Predicting • ___________ - a forecast of what will happen • Predictions are NOT ____________ • Predictions are based on _____________ or _________ • ____________ - an attempt to explain what __________ or ____________ • ____________ - a forecast of what _________ Predicting Always correct Past experience Evidence Inference Has happened Is happening Prediction will happen

6. Math Analyze the Data – pg 9

7. Classifying / Making Models • _________ - the process of ________ things together that are alike. • Classifying objects helps to stay _________ so that the objects can easily be ______ and ______ later. • _____________ - creating representations of ____________ or __________ • Help to understand things that cannot be ___________ directly Classifying grouping organized found used Making Models Complex Objects Processes observed

8. Scientific Inquiry • ___________ - different ways that scientists use to study the natural world. • Ongoing process of _______ in science • First step in scientific inquiry is ___________!!!! • Other habits of mind include: • _______- reporting observations truthfully • ______________ - accepting new and different ideas • _________ - doubtful about information presented with out evidence • ________-coming up with new ways to solve problems Scientific Inquiry discovery CURIOUSITY Honesty Open-mindedness skepticism creativity

9. Process of Inquiry • The process that scientists use to solve problems include: • ________________ • ________________ • _________________ • ______________________ • _______________ • _______________________ Posing a Question Developing a hypothesis Designing an experiment Collecting and interpreting data Drawing conclusions Communicating ideas and results

10. Posing a Question • Scientific Inquiry cannot answer questions based on _________, _________, or _________!!!!! • Scientific questions can be answered by ______________, ___________, and __________________ • Is running a better sport than swimming? • Does running make your muscles stronger than swimming? Scientific Inquiry based question!!! • Which brand of running shoes looks best? opinions values judgments Making observations Collecting data Providing supporting evidence

11. Developing a Hypothesis • Scientific Inquiry moves forward when ______ can be _________. • __________ - possible ________ to a scientific question or an __________ for a set of _________. • Hypothesis is NOT a _____ - one possible way to answer a question • Hypothesis must be _________ by _________ or ___________!!!! • Many ________ are needed before a hypothesis can be accepted as true ideas tested hypothesis answer explanation observations fact TESTABLE OBSERVATION EXPERIMENT trials

12. Designing an Experiment / Variables • _______ - factors that can change in an experiment • In a well designed experiment only ONE variable is PURPOSELY changed!!!! • ________________ or _______________ - the variable that is CHANGED!!! • ________________ or _______________ - the variable that is expected to change because of the manipulated variable. • ______________ - statement that defines how to measure a variable or define a term variables Manipulated Variable Independent Variable Responding Variable Dependent Variable Operational Definition

13. Controlled Variables / Experiment • To be sure that changes in the _____________ are causing the changes in the ______________, scientists ONLY change ONE variable at a time. • ALL other variables are kept ________ = _______ • _______________ - an experiment in which ALL variables except ONE are kept constant Manipulated Variable Responding Variable Controlled Constant Controlled Experiment

14. Collecting Data • _______ - the facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through observations • _________ - an organized way to collect and record observations • ___________ = qualitative or quantitative • ________ = qualitative or quantitative • Qualitative data – recorded in a _______ or _____ data Data table observations data journal Log

15. Quantitative Data / Interpreting data • Scientists make it easier to _______ quantitative data by using the same system of measurement called the __________________ - meters, grams, liter, Celcius • Skills Handbook – Page 808-809 • After data is collected it must be _________ or _______ - graphs reveal ______ or _______ share International System of Units (SI) interpreted explained trends patterns

16. Conclusions / Communicating • After scientists _________ their data, they draw a _______ about their _______. • __________ - states whether or not the ______ support the __________ • ____________ - sharing ideas and conclusions with others through _________ or ________ • Others can ______ the experiment to check the ______ interpret conclusion hypothesis conclusion data hypothesis Communicating speaking writing repeat results