The World of Life Science

Science, Grade 6

The World of Life Science

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Study Guide The World of Life Science Science, Grade 6

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THE WORLD OF LIFE SCIENCE Introduction to Life Science Science is a method of learning about the natural world and includes all previously discovered knowledge of the natural world. The knowledge of the natural world is continuously growing with every new discovery. The way that scientists study the natural world is by using scientific inquiry. Lesson Checkpoint: What is science? Science Skills Scientific inquiry is a process of designing and conducting scientific investigations including asking a question, completing an investigation, attempting to answer the question, and presenting the results to others. The skills that are used by scientists are skills that most of us use on a daily basis. They include: asking a question, making observations and inferences, creating a hypothesis, designing an experiment, taking measurements, collecting data, interpreting data, making conclusions, and communicating the results. Scientists do not use all of these skills for every scientific investigation. The Scientific Method There is a particular strategy that scientists use in order to accomplish their goals of answering a question called scientific method. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Asking a question: Scientific inquiry usually starts with a question or a problem that you would like to investigate further. For example, does sunlight help a plant to stay alive? Making observations and inferences: An observation is using one or more of your senses to gather and collect data or information. Data is evidence that is gathered by making observations. An inference is interpreting observations that are based on prior knowledge or evidence. Creating a hypothesis: A hypothesis is best described as an educated guess that uses experience and knowledge to determine the investigation’s results. A hypothesis can be worded as an “If….Then” statement. For example, a botanist might create this hypothesis and then test it: If sunlight is taken away from a plant, then the plant will die. Designing an experiment : Setting up the experiment is very important to being successful. A scientist must know the different variables of the experiment. Variables are factors that can have an effect on the experiment. The variables must be the same for what you are testing in the experiment. There is one variable that is changed in an experiment, called the manipulated or independent variable. The factor that changes because of the manipulated variable is called the responding or dependent variable. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Taking measurements and collecting data: Scientists use a standard system of measurement for all scientific investigations called the International System of Measurement (SI). Interpreting data: When all of the data is collected from the experiment, it needs to be interpreted in an organized way. If there are patterns or trends, then they must be discovered. Making conclusions : A conclusion is summing up the information from an investigation by either supporting the hypothesis or not. Communicating the results: Communication helps to pass the information to other scientists which was gained from an investigation. The communication can be on the internet, speaking to a group of scientists, or published in a scientific journal. Laboratory skills: The laboratory must be safe at all times. Skills that are important when completing a laboratory investigation are weighing, measuring, cleaning equipment and work area, being aware of safety and laboratory rules, and knowing the correct use of scientific tools. There are thousands of different tools that scientists use for experimentation. It is up to the scientist who creates an investigation to determine what tools are necessary for experimentation. Some of the more common tools that scientists use are: Beakers Graduated cylinders Erlenmeyer flasks Bunsen burners Dissecting instruments Forceps Measuring scale Measuring tape © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Safety in Science Exploration The most important part of a scientific investigation is safety. Some basic but important ways to be safe when completing a scientific investigation are: Wear the proper clothing Respect the materials and people that you are working with Keep the area you are using clean, and Always wear safety equipment. Become familiar with science safety symbols and rules that should be posted in the lab. Here are some examples: If you follow these laboratory practices you will have greater success and everyone involved in the investigation will be safe. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.