California science grade 5 (5)

Investigate and Experiment Scientists found evidence that water used to flow on the surface of Mars P5_CAFM_BAS_TABO_284379.indd 19 12/29/05 5:23:30 PM What Is Science? P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3:14:58 PM Investigation and Experimentation 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, 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 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 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3:15:10 PM Observation > T P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3:15:12 PM 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 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3:15:23 PM Question and Hypothesis > 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 you think scientists might find the answer to this question? P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3:15:26 PM 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 IE 6.b Develop a testable question P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 7 1/4/06 3:15:35 PM A P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3:15:39 PM Experiment > 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 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 • IE 6.d Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation • IE 6.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 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3:15:50 PM 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 10 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 10 1/4/06 3:15:53 PM Collecting Data > 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 11 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 11 1/4/06 3:16:02 PM 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 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.” 12 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 12 IE 6.h Draw conclusions from scientific evidence and indicate whether further information is needed to support a specific conclusion • IE 6.i Write a report of an investigation that includes conducting tests, collecting data or examining evidence, and drawing conclusions 1/4/06 3:16:05 PM Conclusion 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 13 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 13 1/4/06 3:16:14 PM Asking Questions and Forming a Hypothesis Now that you have read toabout methods in use Experiments science, you can put them 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 14 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 14 IE 6.b Develop a testable question 1/4/06 3:16:18 PM Defining Variables O IE 6.d Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation • IE 6.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 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 15 15 1/4/06 3:16:24 PM Designing an Experiment 16 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 16 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 1/4/06 3:16:27 PM Collecting and Analyzing Data IE 6.g Record data by using appropriate graphic representations (including charts, graphs, and labeled diagrams) and make inferences based on those data • IE 6.h Draw conclusions from scientific evidence and indicate whether further information is needed to support a specific conclusion • IE 6.i Write a report of an investigation that includes conducting tests, collecting data or examining evidence, and drawing conclusions P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 17 17 1/4/06 3:16:38 PM Forming New Questions S 18 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 18 IE 6.b Develop a testable question 1/4/06 3:16:42 PM ... to answer a question IE 6.b Develop a testable question P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 7 1/4/06 3: 15: 35 PM A P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3: 15: 39 PM Experiment > Inquiry Skills When you experiment,... data or examining evidence, and drawing conclusions P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3: 15: 10 PM Observation > T P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 1/4/06 3: 15: 12 PM Inquiry Skills When you make observations,... to answer a question about the results of the experiment P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 15 15 1/4/06 3:16:24 PM Designing an Experiment 16 P5_CAFM_BAS_284379.indd 16 IE 6.c Plan and conduct a simple