SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS

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SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS
Science is more than a collection of facts.
Learning the process skills is preparation for
becoming a scientist. Process skills are the
tools scientists use to know about the world.
Click on the links below to get started.
Observe
Classify
Measure
Infer
Predict
Credits
Extensions
About the Author
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OBSERVATION
Observation is the process of using the senses to
determine properties of an object or event.
Click on the pictures.
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WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Sample observations using sight
The creature has 5 eyes. The baby is
walking. The car is orange.
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WHAT DO YOU SMELL?
Sample observations using smell
The fruit smells sweet. The coffee smells
strong. The flowers are fragrant.
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WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
Sample observations using touch
The scissors are sharp. The cat is soft. The
soap is slippery.
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WHAT DO YOU HEAR?
Click the pictures to hear sounds
The girl is laughing. The audience is
clapping. Someone flushed the toilet.
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WHAT DO YOU TASTE?
The watermelon is sweet. The chili is
spicy. The milk is sour.
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CLASSIFICATION
The process of grouping or ordering objects or
events into categories based on properties or
criteria.
Example Place all leaves having a certain vein
pattern into a one group.
Use of a dichotomous key is helpful in
classifying to identify an object.
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DICHOTOMOUS KEY
A dichotomous key is an identification tool that
uses paired statements to assist a person in
learning the identity of an object. A
dichotomous key is a listing of characteristics,
such as structure and behavior, organized in such
a way that an organism can be identified or
classified. Think of a dichotomous key as a type
of scavenger hunt.
Interactive dichotomous key
Example of dichotomous key
After linking to the Web, click the back button
or close the browser.
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DICHOTOMOUS KEY EXAMPLE
1. a. tail fins are horizontalwhale.go to
2 b. tail fins are verticalfish.go
to 3 2. a. has teeth or tusktoothed
whale..go to 4 b. has no
teeth...BALEEN WHALE 3. a. has gill
slits behind mouthshark....go to 5 b.
has no gill slits..NONSHARK FISH 4. a.
black with white underside.KILLER WHALE
b. tusk, gray with dark spots....NARWHAL 5.
a. head is hammershaped..HAMMERHEAD SHARK
b. tail is half the body length.THRESHER SHARK
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MEASUREMENT
..using both standard and nonstandard measures
or estimates to describe the dimensions of an
object or event
..comparing an unknown quantity with a known
quantity
Measurements are to be recorded in an orderly and
systemic fashion with labeled units of measure.
Click to learn more about measurement tools.
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MEASUREMENT TOOLS
Click each graphic to find out more.
Length linear measurement base unit
meter
Volume capacity base unit liter
Weight mass base unit gram
Temperature hot/cold base unit Celsius
After linking to the Web, click the back button
or close the browser.
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INFERENCE
The process of drawing a conclusion about a
specific event based on observations and data
may include cause and effect relationships.
Examples of inference
Your turn to try
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INFERENCE EXAMPLES
.saying a person who used the pencil made a lot
of mistakes because the eraser was well worn.
.saying that a train is coming because the cross
gate is down.
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MAKING INFERENCES
Read the paragraph then answer the questions.

• Tommy and Johnny were hot and sweaty as they
  sat outside the principals office. Dirt smeared
  both of their faces. They could hear the
  teachers voice as she gave Mr. Jones her account
  of what happened. Tommy sneered at Johnny and
  Johnny returned an angry glare. As Miss Green
  left Mr. Jones office, the boys hung their heads
  so they wouldnt have to look her in the eye.
• From the paragraph, you can INFER that
• The boys are best friends.
• The boys had disappointed their teacher.
• The principal was a nice man.

Click to hear the paragraph.
ANSWER
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ANSWER B
Tommy and Johnny had disappointed their
teacher. What are the clues?
We know the boys are mad at each other because
Tommy sneered at Johnny and he returned an angry
glare.
We can guess they had been fighting because dirt
smeared their faces and they were sitting outside
the principals office.
The BIGGEST CLUE is the last sentence the boys
hung their heads so they didnt have to look her
in the eye.
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PREDICTING
The process of forming an idea of an expected
resultnot a guess but a belief of what will
occur based on present knowledge, observations,
and inferences.
Example Predicting the height of a plant in two
weeks time based on a graph of its growth during
the previous four weeks.
Real World Connection
Activity
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WHO USES PREDICTIONS?
Meteorologist uses weather trends of the past to
predict todays weather.
Financial advisor predicts which investments
will be profitable.
Doctors make predictions of a patients future
well being/health.
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ACTIVITY What will a Magnet Attract?
Predict which objects you think the magnet will
attract.
Test your predictions with a magnet.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This project was designed by Becky Sons while
enrolled in ECOMP 5016 Teaching and Learning
with Multimedia, a required course for the
Masters of Technology in Education program
through Lesley University.
My name is Becky Sons. I am a middle school
teacher at the South Carolina Department of
Juvenile Justice. This project was designed for
my science class to introduce the process skills.
The project can also be used for reinforcement.
When people ask why I teach at the juvie jail,
I tell them my kids are just like other
students. Mine just need me more.
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CREDITS
The following resources were used to create this
project for graphics, animation, and sound.
http//www.clipsahoy.com/ http//www.gif.com/ http
//www.gifanimations.com http//school.discovery.c
om/ http//www.frogstar.com/wav/effects.asp http/
/www.animatedgif.net http//www.bellsnwhistles.com
/ Dichotomous key http//www.harcourtschool.com/g
lossary/science/define/gr6/dichot_key6a.html Back
ground music Slide 1 I Wish it Would Rain
Temptations Slide 13 Dont Ask Me Why
Eurythmics I followed the fair use guidelines
for the graphics and sounds used in this project.
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EXTENSIONS
For more activities using the science process
skills, visit these sites http//www.microbeworl
d.org/mlc/gifs/activities/pgs1-6.pdf http//www.m
iddleschoolscience.com/shoe.pdf http//nerds.unl.
edu/Pages/preser/sec/skills/dkeys.html http//www
.aaamath.com/mea.html http//library.thinkquest.o
rg/3804/ http//www.brainpop.com/science/matter/m
easurement/index.weml