Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
WHAT IS SCIENCE?
(pages 10-19)
This section describes how scientists explore problems and seek answers to questions
about the natural world. The section also describes the branches of science.
Introduction
(page 10)
1. What is science? Science is a way of learning about the natural world and
the knowledge gained through that process.
2. The many ways in which scientists explore the problems and seek
answers to questions about the natural world is referred to as
scientific inquiry
.
Thinking Like a Scientist
(pages 11–15)
3. What skills do scientists use? Posing questions, making observations and
inferences, developing hypotheses, designing experiments, collecting data
© Prentice-Hall, Inc.
and making measurements, interpreting data, and drawing conclusions.
Match the term with its definition.
Term
Definition
b
4. observation
a
5. inference
a. An interpretation based on gathered
information and prior knowledge
b. Using sight, hearing, smell, and
sometimes taste to gather information
6. A possible explanation for observations that relate to a scientific
question is called a(n)
Science Explorer Grade 6
hypothesis
.
Guided Reading and Study Workbook
1
Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
What Is Science? (continued)
7. A hypothesis can be tested by observation or
experimentation
.
8. Complete the compare/contrast table.
Variables
Type of Variable
Definition
Manipulated variable
Variable that the scientist changes
Responding variable
Variable that changes as a result
9. Is the following sentence true or false? In a controlled experiment,
false
scientists keep all the variables constant.
10. Is the following sentence true or false? Scientists who study processes
that take millions of years cannot conduct experiments.
false
11. The facts, figures, and other evidence collected in an experiment are
data
called
.
12. Circle the letter of the units of measurement that are used by scientists
worldwide.
a. IS units
b. International units
c. SI units
d. Data units
© Prentice-Hall, Inc.
13. A model that imitates something in the real world is called a(n)
simulation
.
Scientific Laws and Theories
(page 16)
14. A statement that describes what scientists expect to happen every time
under a particular set of conditions is a(n)
scientific law
.
15. A well-tested scientific concept that explains a wide range of
observations is a(n)
2
scientific theory
Guided Reading and Study Workbook
.
Science Explorer Grade 6
Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
16. Is the following sentence true or false? If tests fail to support a theory,
false
scientists do more tests until the theory is supported.
Laboratory Safety
(page 16)
17. Why is it important to follow safe laboratory practices? They protect
everyone from injury and make investigations go more smoothly.
Branches of Science
(page 18)
18. What are the four main branches of science? Physical science, Earth
science, life science, and environmental science.
19. Knowledge about Earth and its place in the universe is referred to as
Earth science
.
20. Circle the letter of each kind of work scientists do.
a. Test water supplies
b. Study weather
c. Design safer cars
d. Study rain forests
21. Scientists who study the universe are called
astronomers
.
22. Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about environmental
scientists.
a. They study the effects of using Earth’s resources.
© Prentice-Hall, Inc.
b. They determine the effects of human activities on the environment.
c. They try to solve problems such as pollution.
d. They focus on the solar system.
23. Is the following sentence true or false? The branches of science are not
separate from one another.
true
Technology and the Internet
(page 19)
24. What are two ways that technology helps scientists? Technology helps
scientists collect and analyze data. It also helps them communicate their
discoveries to other scientists and to the public.
Science Explorer Grade 6
Guided Reading and Study Workbook
3
Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
What Is Science? (continued)
WordWise
Use your knowledge of the key terms to solve the crossword puzzle.
1
c
2
o
n
t
r
o
l
l
c
i
e
n
c
e
a
r
a
b
e
d
b
3
s
e
r
4
v
a
7
d
a
t
5
6
l
n
a
f
w
a
i
i
e
e
8
o
n
r
e
s
s
i
p
o
n
d
i
n
g
e
n
c
9
h y
p
o
t
h
e
10
s
i
Clues across
1. Experiment in which only one variable is manipulated
4. Any factor that can change in an experiment
7. The facts, figures, and other evidence gained through
observation
8. The variable that changes as a result of the
manipulated variable
9. A possible explanation for a set of observations or
answer to a scientific question
4
Guided Reading and Study Workbook
2. Use of all five senses to
gather information
5. An interpretation based
on observation and
prior knowledge
6. A statement that
describes what scientists
expect to happen every
time
10. Units of measurements
used by scientists
Science Explorer Grade 6
© Prentice-Hall, Inc.
3. Way of learning about the natural world and
knowledge gained through that process
Clues down