Direct Observation Questions
1. How many airplanes were in the picture?
2. What number was at the top of the dart board?
3. What time did the clock say?
4. What denomination was the money?
5. What color was the boy’s hair who was holding the globe?
6. What color was the fingernail polish?
7. What color was the baseball player’s shirt?
8. How many matches were still in the book?
9. What number was on the side of the car?
10. What toy (not a ball) was touching the football?
11. Name three of the four colors on the dartboard.
Observations
Direct Observations – Those observations we
make ourselves
Five ways to make direct observations…
i.e. Measurements using a ruler
i.e. Amount of snow that fell
Indirect Observations – Those observations
that we infer or make from far away
• Depth of the ocean
• Distance to stars
Observing Milk Consumption
The cafeteria is considering getting rid of milk at lunch.
Before they do, they need to know how many students
drink milk each day.
List as many ways as you can to find out how many
students drink milk each day.
Comparing Observations
Observation
Time
Cost
Accuracy
Direct
Lots
Expensive
High
Indirect
Little
Cheap
Low
Observations and Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Understand the problem.
Observe and ask questions.
Develop a hypothesis (tentative explanation of the problem)
Give evidence for your hypothesis.
If hypothesis is not correct, go back to #1
Observations and Questions
A woman gets ready for bed one evening. She
changes and turns out the light. She goes to
sleep. When she wakes in the morning, she looks
outside. She promptly jumps out the window and
kills herself. Why?
Observations and Questions
A man lives on the 94th floor of a tall apartment
building. Every day the man rides the elevator all
the way to the ground floor to go to work. On
rainy days the man rides the elevator back home.
On sunny days the man only rides to the 44th floor
and then walks up the steps for the remaining 50
floors. Explain this behavior.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Apple
Orange
Tangerine
Broccoli
Banana
Tomato
Grapefruit
Pineapple
Pear
Kiwi
Carrot
Potato
4½
ACDC
Toby Keith
REM
Smashing Pumpkins
Beach Boys
CCR
Beastie Boys
Led Zeplin
Jimmy Buffet
Tom Petty
Dixie Chicks
Kid Rock
Paula Abdul
Run DMC
Quiet Riot
Steve Miller Band
Queen
Elton John
Elton John
Grateful Dead
Frank Sinatra
Kenny Chesney
KISS
Nirvanna
Classification
Classification provides scientists a way to
sort and group specimens for easier study
There is NO right way to classify things
Does it make sense
Is it effective
Classifying Aquatic Ecosystems
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You are provided with a set of 18 aquatic ecosystems
1.Use the keys provided to identify each of those
ecosystems
2.Classify those ecosystems into groups using the
following rules
• Must have at least 2 groups
• Each group must have at least 2 ecosystems
• No ecosystem can be placed into more than one group
3.Make a poster showing your classification system
4.If you have time, make it pretty
Human Systems
Natural Systems
System – Group of parts working together to complete a function
Nature is a system and contains many subsystems.
These systems are all interrelated
Changes in one of these systems will impact the other
systems, and it is possible and necessary to be able to predict
how a change to one system will affect another system
Natural Systems
Closed Systems – a system where nothing enters or leaves – it is
self-contained
Open Systems – a system that requires resources to enter the
system or waste to leave the system
Input – something going into a system
Output – something leaving a system
The Earth, in terms of matter, is a closed system
Natural Systems
Humans clearly disrupt biogeochemical cycles
In the absence of humans, are the biogeochemical cycles stable?
Change is a part of natural biogeochemical cycles
Investigating Cycles
Earth’s major cycles
include the following:
• Water
• Carbon
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
Use the information provided to answer
the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What elements are involved in each
cycle
Which of Earth’s spheres are
involved in each cycle
Name three important needs for each
element/compound
What ultimately powers these cycles
In what sphere is each of the
elements most common
What happens to nutrients when
living things die
Sailboat Models
Definitions
Model - A scientific model is a simplified view of reality that allows
us to create explanations of how we think some part of the world
works.
Scale – mathematical relationship between a real-life object and a
model of the object
.-..--…---….----…..----½
1
1½
Orange
Tangerine
Grapefruit
Pineapple
Kiwi
2
2½
3
3½
___
___
Nature repeats itself in patterns
These patterns can be used to make predictions
By understanding these patterns we are better able to
understand the world we live on
Finding Patterns in Constellations
For thousands of years, humans have found patterns in the
stars. These patterns, while not based on anything more
than our own perspective from here on Earth, help us find
our way around the sky, predict seasons, and navigate.
Many times, these constellations were
based on the myths and legends of
different cultures. Thus we have Orion
the Hunter and Aries the Ram.
On the star sheet provided, find your own constellation.
When you are done, write a myth about your constellation.
Once upon a time there was a
really nice teacher named Mr. R.
Now Mr. R. had fallen deeply in
love with Ms. L next door.
However, when he expressed
his love for her, she spurned his
advances and broke his heart
using a knife. To forever remind
humans of the importance of
love and friendship, the gods
took Mr. R’s heart and the knife
and placed them in the heavens
where they remind us to this
day that men are nice and
women are evil, conniving,
uncaring…
Finding Patterns in Constellations
For thousands of years, humans have found patterns in the stars.
These patterns, while not based on anything more than our own
perspective from here on Earth, help us find our way around the sky,
predict seasons, and navigate.
Many times, these constellations were based on
the myths and legends of different cultures.
Thus we have Orion the Hunter and Aries the
Ram.
On the star sheet provided, find your own constellation. When you
are done, write a myth about your constellation.
Reviewing Observations
and Classification
1. Describe direct and indirect observations and give an example of
each
2. What are the five ways of making a direct observation
3. Compare direct and indirect observations in terms of time, cost, and
accuracy
4. What are the five key points of observing and questioning?
5. Why do scientists classify things
6. What is the correct way to classify things
Reviewing Systems
Models and Patterns
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
What is a system
Why do scientists study change in systems
Compare a closed and open system. Give an example of each
What is a model
What is scale
Explain why we use models in science.
What is the benefit of patterns in science
Other Things You Should Know…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Describe the four major spheres of the Earth
Define science
Compare science and non-science
Compare science and technology
List five natural changes that occur in the environment
List five human-caused changes that occur in the environment
Why is the statement “We are going to destroy the Earth if we
continue to do environmental damage” not completely accurate
8. How do we know if the Earth is healthy?
9. Explain why knowing information is less important than learning
information