ED216-Unit 2

• The process of scientific inquiry involves making observations, formulating a hypothesis, and conducting scientific experiments. The 7 steps of inquiry are:

  1. Ask a question.
  2. Perform research.
  3. Establish your hypothesis.
  4. Test your hypothesis by conducting an experiment.
  5. Make an observation.
  6. Analyze the results and draw a conclusion.
  7. Present the findings.
• The most important processes in primary school science

  • Observing
  • Inferring
  • Classifying
  • Communicating
  • Measuring
  • Predicting
  • Recognising space-time relations
  • Experimenting
• Observing


  The process of using all the senses to identify and name the properties of objects and events
• Types of observation


  • Qualitative observations (describing properties)
  • Quantitative observations (measuring quantity)
• Inferences are always uncertain or tentative
• The accuracy of an inference usually improves as the number of thorough and careful observations of a phenomenon increases
• An inference is considered 'accurate' if it is logical and supported by a lot of observational data
• Scientists make inferences all the time, the ideas in books tend to last because they are based on careful and thorough observation - not because they are absolutely certain facts
• Communicating


  Clearly and correctly describing (orally and in writing) objects and events and compiling pictorial information (pictures, photos etc.)
• Operationally

  Describing an object or event by an action (operation)
• Recording and organising


  Recording data in a clear and correct way, and organising data to make it easier to interpret
• Line graphs are drawn from continuous data, bar graphs are drawn from discrete data
• Measuring


  The process of working out the length, volume, mass, speed, time or another property of an object or event
• Examples of children measuring

  • Standing side by side to compare their heights
  • Finding out whose pencil is the longest
  • Finding out who has the longest hair
• In lower primary classes, children may be unable to use standard measuring devices such as a measuring tape, weighing scales or a measuring cylinder
• The first year of primary school is the best time for teachers to prepare pupils to work with standard measuring devices
• Ways to prepare pupils to work with standard measuring devices

  • Have a variety of concrete (real) objects in the classroom for pupils to refer to as needed
  • Mention practical examples for large quantities like kilometre and kilogram
• Predicting


  Using observed (repetitive) patterns and trends to say that a certain event is going to happen in the future
• Predicting requires data from observation

  • Without data, we can only guess about future events
  • With some data, we can predict with some confidence
  • With a lot of data, we become more confident about our prediction
• Experimenting


  Changing a factor, object or event intentionally so that we can learn how nature changes it
• Hypothesis


  • Must be based on observation
  • Must be testable
• Independent (manipulated) variable


  The variable that is varied
• Dependent (responding) variable


  The variable that is affected
• Controlled variables


  Other factors that must be kept unaltered during the experiment
• Recognising space-time relations involves locating objects in space, recognising an object by its shape, and interpreting the apparent change in the shape of an object as the viewer sees it from different positions
• Recognising space-time relations involves describing the position of an object with reference to other objects and describing changes in the shape and position of an object over a period of time
• theory is the explanation or understanding of how something works
• The research process involves identifying the problem, collecting information through various sources such as interviews, surveys, experiments, and observations, analyzing the collected data, drawing conclusions based on the analysis, and communicating the findings to others.
• Research can be qualitative (focused on gathering non-numerical data) or quantitative (focused on gathering numerical data). It can also involve both qualitative and quantitative approaches.