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
OBSERVATION
Observation is the process of using the senses
to determine properties of an object or event.
Click on the pictures.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Sample observations using sight:
The creature has 5 eyes.
The baby is walking.
The car is orange.
WHAT DO YOU SMELL?
Sample observations using smell:
The fruit smells sweet.
The coffee smells strong.
The flowers are fragrant.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
Sample observations using touch:
The scissors are sharp.
The cat is soft.
The soap is slippery.
WHAT DO YOU HEAR?
Click the pictures to hear sounds:
The girl is laughing.
The audience is clapping.
Someone flushed the toilet.
WHAT DO YOU TASTE?
The watermelon is sweet.
The chili is spicy.
The milk is sour.
CLASSIFICATI
ON
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.
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.
Example of dichotomous key Interactive dichotomous key
After linking to the Web, click the back
button or close the browser.
DICHOTOMOUS KEY EXAMPLE
1. a. tail fins are horizontal—whale………………….go to 2
b. tail fins are vertical—fish……………………….go to 3
2. a. has teeth or tusk—toothed whale………………..go to 4
b. has no teeth………………………...BALEEN WHALE
3. a. has gill slits behind mouth—shark…….………...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
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.
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.
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
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.
MAKING INFERENCES
Read the paragraph then answer the questions.
Tommy and Johnny were hot and sweaty as they sat
Click to hear
outside the principal’s office. Dirt smeared both of the
their faces. They could hear the teacher’s voice as she paragraph.
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 wouldn’t have to look
her in the eye.
From the paragraph, you can INFER that……
a. The boys are best friends.
b. The boys had disappointed their teacher.
c. The principal was a nice man.
ANSWER
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 principal’s office.
The BIGGEST CLUE is the last sentence: the boys hung their heads
so they didn’t have to look her in the eye.
PREDICTING
The process of forming an idea of an expected result—
not 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
WHO USES PREDICTIONS?
Meteorologist –uses weather trends of the past to
predict today’s weather.
Financial advisor – predicts which investments will
be profitable.
Doctors – make predictions of a patient’s
future well being/health.
ACTIVITY
What will a Magnet Attract?
Predict which objects you think the magnet will attract.
Test your predictions with a magnet.
CREDITS
The following resources were used to create this project
for graphics, animation, and sound.
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
Dichotomous key: [Link]
Background music: Slide 1 :“I Wish it Would Rain” Temptations
Slide 13: “Don’t Ask Me Why” Eurythmics
I followed the fair use guidelines for the graphics and sounds used in this project.
EXTENSIONS
For more activities using the science process skills, visit these sites:
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]