Thinking+Like+A+Scientist

Big Idea
The scientific process of asking questions and seeking answers is critical to developing an understanding of how the world works.

Essential Questions
What is inquiry? How can we answer questions scientifically?

Learning Objectives
Students will know that....
 * 1) Science is all around us.
 * 2) Scientific investigations begin with a question.
 * 3) Not all questions can be answered scientifically.
 * 4) Scientists design controlled experiments to understand the relationships between two factors.

Students will be able to....
 * 1) Describe the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations
 * 2) Explain the difference between and observation and an inference
 * 3) Write a hypothesis using an if/then statement
 * 4) Identify independent, dependent and constants
 * 5) Explain the purpose of a control group
 * 6) Be able to identify a control group.
 * 7) Design a controlled experiment.

Scientific Methods
Questions & Hypotheses Notes Posing Questions Reference Sheet Making A Hypothesis Reference Sheet Hypothesis Practice Worksheet Variables Notes Independent & Dependent Variables Practice Identifying Variables Worksheet Trials & Groups (Control Group) Notes Experimental Design Reference (Vocab) Experimental Design Diagram Explained Blank Experimental Design Diagram Design Detectives (sample scenariors for EDD) Experimental Design Practice Problems (more challenging scenarios)

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Scientific Methods & Vocabulary Study Guide for the Quiz

Observation & Inference
Observation vs. Inference Notes @Observation Vs. Inference Skills Practice = =

Roto Copter Questions
Click on your block below to choose a question/topic to investigate. Block B Roto Copters Block E Roto Copters Block H

= Careers in Science = Science Career Poster Project Handout Choose a topic from the Science Buddies website or one of your own (teacher approval required).

__ Visit these websites for more useful information. __
 * Discover Science Careers (Biochemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medicine, Neurology, Parasitology, Zoology)
 * Kids.gov @http://www.kids.gov/6_8/6_8_science_careers.shtml
 * Science Careers (many fields) []
 * Career Smarts (lots of great links) @http://www.careersmarts.com/science.htm
 * Careers in Earth Science []
 * Geosciences @http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/careers.html
 * Search the following sites for actual job openings to see qualifications of different careers
 * @http://www.sciencejobs.com/
 * @http://www.workopolis.com/
 * @http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/
 * @http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/
 * @http://www.science-jobs.org/
 * @http://jobprofiles.monster.com/


 * US Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/)
 * Search the list of Occupations and/or type in your career into the website's search box.

Lab Safety
Safety First! Reading

Famous Scientist Poster
[|Super Scientists Worksheet] [|Famous Scientist Poster Project] [|Famous Scientist Fact Finding Sheet]

Useful Websites for Famous Scientist Poster Project:

Feel free to use the library, online encyclopedias, or other websites ... but you must cite all your sources.

Spotlight Inventor: many famous scientists listed alphabetically

Zoom Inventors & Inventions: Look up by last name

Search by last name letter: [|http://www-groups.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~history/Indexes/D.html]

PBS site ... nice biographies: []

Biographies http://www.gap-system.org/~history/BiogIndex.html

Energy Quest Scientists: [|http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/scientists/index.htm]

Another list of famous scientists: []

Women in science: [] @http://www.astr.ua.edu/4000WS/summary.shtml