Name__________________________________
Science: Lesson 1 “What Do Scientists Do? (Pages 3-16)
( Pages 4-5)
The Role of a Scientist
Vocabulary to know:
scientist: A person that asks questions about the natural world.
science: The study of the natural world.
Facts to know
 Earth Scientists study such things as rocks, weather, and planets.
 Physical Scientists study such things as matter, energy, electricity and
magnetism,
 Life Scientists study living things such as animals and plants.
(Pages 6-7)
Making Observations and Asking Questions
Vocabulary to know:
observation: information collected by using the five senses.
investigation: a procedure carried out to gather data about an object or event.
(Pages8-9) Experiments
Vocabulary to know:
hypothesis: a possible explanation or answer to a question, a testable statement.
Facts to know:
 An experiment is a fair test. It can show that that one thing causes another
thing to happen. In each test, you change only one factor or variable.
Scientific investigations use scientific methods that include the following
activities:
 Ask well defined questions
 Form hypothesis
 Plan and conduct experiment
 Collect, record, and analyze data
 Draw conclusions
 Communicate results
Sometimes these steps are done in order. At other times, they’re not.
(Pages 10-11) Other Kinds of Investigations
Facts to Know:
Many science questions cannot be answered by doing an experiment but may use
the following to answer scientific questions:
 Identification guides
 Making or using a model
 Looking for patterns
 research
evidence: data gathered during an investigation.