“Doing Science”

1. “Doing Science” Types of Scientific Investigations

2. WA Science Standards 4-5 & 6-8 INQB: Investigate Content Standard: Different kinds of questions suggest different kinds of scientific investigations. Performance Expectation: Plan and conduct a scientific investigation (e.g., field study, systematic observation, controlled experiment, model, simulation, or open-ended exploration) that is appropriate for the question being asked.

3. Field Study When do the birds migrate to and from our local park? Field Studies are… A scientific study of free-living plants or animals in which the subjects are observed in their natural habitat without changing, harming, or altering the setting or subjects.

4. Systematic Observation How do the weather patterns change in the Pacific Ocean throughout the year? Systematic Observations are… Orderly, planned observations designed to reveal patterns, trends, unusual occurrences. Observations may include the act of measuring.

5. Controlled Experiment How does the amount of water affect how quickly a surface heats up? Controlled Experiments are… A lab investigation in which the values of all variables are kept the same except for one that is changed from experiment to experiment (manipulated variable) and one that is measured (responding variable).

6. Model How can the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun explain different kinds of eclipses? Models are… Representations (physical, visual, graphic, mental) of a system. Models are useful for studying systems that are too big, small, dangerous, or complex to study directly.

7. Simulation How do you fly a spaceship in different situations before you really go to space? Simulations are… The imitation of some real thing, situation, or process. Simulating something involves representing certain key characteristics or behaviors of a system.

8. Open-Ended Exploration What is a tsunami like? Open-Ended Explorations are… Initial investigations of interesting phenomena without prior hypotheses about what may be discovered, or even what variables may be most important to observe and measure.

9. Match:Questions vs. Investigation Types Field Study Systematic Observation Controlled Experiment Model Simulation Open-Ended Exploration • How does the type of surface affect how you operate a remotely operated vehicle on Mars? • How does applying different forces to the Earth affect the type of landforms that are created? • How does the temperature of the water affect how tall the tomato plant grows? • How does the day of the month affect the appearance of the moon? • How does the distance from the lake affect the types of plants and animals we see?

10. Answers: Investigation Question Type of Investigation • How does the type of surface affect how you operate a remotely operated vehicle on Mars? • How does applying different forces to the Earthaffect the type of landforms that are created? • How does the temperature of the water affect how tall the tomato plantgrows? • How does the day of the month affect the appearance of the moon? • How does the distance from the lake affect the types of plants and animals we see? a) Field Study b) Systematic Observation c) Controlled Experiment d) Model f) Open-Ended Exploration e) Simulation

11. Essential Features of Inquiry • Engage in scientific question. • Give priority to evidence. • Form explanation from evidence. • Connect explanation to science knowledge. • Communicate & justify explanation. …but…

12. Essential Features of Inquiry What motivates us to begin inquiring?? • Engage in scientific question. • Give priority to evidence. • Form explanation from evidence. • Connect explanation to science knowledge. • Communicate & justify explanation.

13. Essential Features of Inquiry What motivates us to begin inquiring?? • Engage in scientific question. • Give priority to evidence. • Form explanation from evidence. • Connect explanation to science knowledge. • Communicate & justify explanation.