California science grade 5 (5)

Observe Compare Infer Classify Measure Use Numbers Communicate Predict Record Data Analyze Data Sequence Form a Hypothesis Use Variables Experiment Make a Model Draw Conclusions 6.. Plan

Investigate and Experiment

Scientists found evidence that water used to flow on the surface of Mars.

What Is

Science?

Inquiry Skills

These are the inquiry skills scientists use You can use these skills, too

Observe Compare Infer Classify Measure Use Numbers Communicate Predict Record Data Analyze Data Sequence Form a Hypothesis Use Variables Experiment Make a Model Draw Conclusions

6. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content

in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations Students will:

a Classify objects (e.g., rocks, plants, leaves) in accordance with appropriate criteria.

b Develop a testable question.

c Plan and conduct a simple investigation based

on a student-developed question and write instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure.

d Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation.

e Identify a single independent variable in a scientific investigation and explain how this variable can be used to collect information

to answer a question about the results of the experiment.

f Select appropriate tools (e.g., thermometers, meter sticks, balances, and graduated cylinders) and make quantitative observations.

g Record data by using appropriate graphic representations (including charts, graphs, and labeled diagrams) and make inferences based

on those data.

h Draw conclusions from scientific evidence and indicate whether further information is needed to support a specific conclusion.

i Write a report of an investigation that includes conducting tests, collecting data or examining evidence, and drawing conclusions.

Investigation and Experimentation

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Observation >

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Inquiry Skills

When you make observations, you use these skills

Observe Use your senses to learn about an object or event

Classify Place things that share properties together in groups

Measure Find the size, distance, time, volume, area, mass, weight, or temperature of an object

or an event

Compare Note similarities and differences between objects

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Scientific investigations often start with an unanswered

question If scientists cannot find an answer to a question,

they go one step further They propose a possible answer

that can be tested This is known as forming a hypothesis

A good hypothesis must

▸ be based on what you observe.

▸ be testable by performing an investigation

or experiment.

▸ be useful in predicting new findings.

When scientists looked at this photo of the

surface of Mars (inset), they wondered if the

channel might have been formed by running water, similar

to a stream on Earth How do you think

scientists might find the answer to this question?

Question and Hypothesis >

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Inquiry Skills

When you ask questions and form hypotheses, you use these skills

Infer Form an idea from facts or

observations

Form a Hypothesis

Make a statement that can be tested to answer

a question

5 IE 6.b Develop a testable question.

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Inquiry Skills

When you experiment, you use these skills

Experiment Perform

a test to support or disprove a hypothesis

Use Variables Identify things in an experiment that can be changed or controlled

Predict State possible results of an event or experiment

Make a Model Make something to represent

an object or event

Experiment >

5 IE 6.c Plan and conduct a simple investigation based on

a student-developed question and write instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure

• 5 IE 6.d Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation • 5 IE 6.e Identify

a single independent variable in a scientifi c investigation and explain how this variable can be used to collect information to answer a question about the results of the experiment.

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In an experiment a scientist tries to observe carefully

and collect good data Once all the information has been

gathered, it is time to analyze the data Recording and

analyzing data often requires working with numbers

Numbers make it possible for scientists to make

quantitative comparisons and to put things in a

sequence Scientists have been

able to measure the size of

Earth and of Mars What

is the difference

between the

diameter of Earth

and the diameter

of Mars? Which

one is larger?

4,220 miles

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Inquiry Skills

When you collect and interpret data, you use these skills

Use Numbers Order, count, add, subtract, multiply, and divide to explain data

Measure Find the size, distance, time, volume, area, mass, weight, or temperature of an object

or an event

Record Data Gather information in notes, drawings, pictures, charts, tables, or diagrams

Analyze Data Use the information that has been gathered to answer questions or solve a problem

Sequence Arrange objects or events in a well-defined order

7,926 miles

Collecting Data >

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After analyzing the data, scientists are ready to

draw conclusions A conclusion is a statement about

whether or not a hypothesis is valid, or supported by

the evidence Sometimes the data do not support the

hypothesis When that happens, and if they have kept

careful records, scientists can search for any mistakes If

no mistakes are found, the hypothesis must be rejected

Perhaps different methods or observations are needed.

Why is it important for scientists to communicate

about their research? One reason is to give other

scientists the opportunity to comment on their work

After all, it takes many repeated experiments yielding

consistent results before those results are accepted as

“good science.”

5 IE 6.h Draw conclusions from scientifi c evidence and indicate whether further information is needed to support a specifi c conclusion • 5 IE 6.i Write a report of an investigation that includes conducting tests, collecting data or examining evidence, and drawing conclusions.

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Inquiry Skills

When you draw conclusions and communicate results, you use these skills

Draw Conclusions

Decide how the results relate to the hypothesis

Communicate Share information

Conclusion

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Asking Questions and Forming a Hypothesis

Now that you have read about methods in

science, you can put them to use Experiments

start with an unanswered question Students

wondered about the craters on Mars Here is a

question they wanted to explore.

Question

Does the distance an object drops affect the size

of the crater it forms?

They turned the question into a hypothesis A

hypothesis is an “if then ” statement You can

test a hypothesis and observe results of the test

Here is their hypothesis:

Hypothesis

5 IE 6.b Develop a testable question.

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Defining Variables

O

5 IE 6.d Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation • 5 IE 6.e Identify

a single independent variable in a scientifi c investigation and explain how this variable can be 15

Designing an Experiment

5 IE 6.c Plan and conduct a simple investigation based on a student-developed question and write instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure.

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Collecting and Analyzing Data

5 IE 6.g Record data by using appropriate graphic representations (including charts, graphs, and labeled diagrams) and make inferences based on those data • 5 IE 6.h Draw conclusions from scientifi c evidence and indicate whether further information is needed

to support a specifi c conclusion • 5 IE 6.i Write a report of an investigation that includes 17

Forming New Questions

S

5 IE 6.b Develop a testable question.

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