Science Process Skills

Mrs. DeSimone

What Are Science Process

Skills?
Problem solving is the essence of
scientific investigations.
You are given or identify a
problem and then you use certain
skills and procedures to
investigate.
These skills and procedures
are the science process skills.
(http://teachertipstraining.suite101.com/article.cfm/problem_solving_and_science_process_s
kills#ixzz0PYg9BoVe)

More on 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.
(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocesss
kills.ppt)

What Are the Process Skills?

There are six basic science process
skills:
1.Observation
2.Communication
3.Classification
4.Measurement
5.Inference
6.Prediction

Observation

Observing is the fundamental science

process skill.
We observe objects and events using
all our five senses, and this is how we
learn about the world around us.

(http://teachertipstraining.suite101.com/article.cfm/problem_solving_and_science_process_skills#ixzz0PYg9BoVe)

What Do You See?

Sample observations using sight:
The creature has 5 eyes.
The baby is walking.
The car is orange.

(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocessskills

What Do You Smell?

Sample observations using smell:
The fruit smells sweet.
The coffee smells strong.
The flowers are fragrant.

(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocessskills

What Do You Feel?

Sample observations using touch:
The scissors are sharp.
The cat is soft.
The soap is slippery.

(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocessskills

What Do You Hear?

What sounds do these things make?
The girl is laughing.
The audience is clapping.
Someone flushed the toilet.

(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocessskills

What Do You Taste?

The watermelon is sweet.
The chili is spicy.
The milk is sour.

(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocessskills

Communication
You have to communicate in order to
share your observations with
someone else, and the
communication must be clear and
effective if the other person is to
understand the information.

(http://teachertipstraining.suite101.com/article.cfm/problem_solving_and_science_process_skills#ixzz0PYg9BoVe)

Classification
The process of grouping or
ordering objects or events into
categories based on properties or
criteria.

(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocessskil
ls.ppt)

Measurement is
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
(http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/support/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/scienceprocessskills
.ppt)

Measurement is (cont.)
recording measurements in an
orderly and systemic fashion with
labeled units of measure
Number of Chocolate Chips in Different Brands of Cookies
Brand

# Chips

# Chips

# Chips

# Chips

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial AVG

Chips Ahoy!

28

30

32

30

Original
Chips Ahoy!

34

30

22

28.6

Chewy
Chips

32

38

40

36.6

Deluxe

Types of Measurement
Length linear measurement
base unit: meter
Volume capacity
base unit: liter
Mass how much matter
is in something
base unit: gram
Temperature hot/cold
base unit: Celsius

Inference

Unlike observations, which are direct

evidence gathered about an object,
inferences are explanations that follow
from our observations.
When we are able to make inferences, and
explain events, we have a better
appreciation of our environment.
Inferences link what has been observed
together with what
is already
known from
previous experiences.

http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/images/sec6.processskills.pdf

Prediction
Making predictions is making educated
guesses about the outcomes of future
events. We are forecasting future
observations.
Predictions are not just guesses!
Predictions based on our inferences
about events give us a way to test those
inferences. If the prediction turns out to
be correct, then we have greater
confidence in our inference.

http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/images/sec6.processskills.pdf

How Do These Skills Relate?

These basic skills are integrated
together when scientists design
and carry out experiments.
All of the six basic skills are
important individually as
well as when they are
integrated together.
(http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/images/sec6.processskills.pdf)

References
http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/images/sec
6.processskills.pdf
http://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/district/su
pport/ets/media/WebQuest/Processskills/sc
ienceprocessskills.ppt
http://www.gifanimations.com