Fig5 a scientist working in a laboratory 22 vi

Fig.5 A Scientist working in a Laboratory

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vi. Formulating Models
Creating a mental or physical model of a process or event is what counts as “formulating
models”. Drawing a diagram; producing a picture that illustrates information about ice
cube melting; writing to describe how the process of evaporation and condensation inter-
relate in the water cycle, illustrating by analogy.
Science Process Skills
Process of
Science
Competency Indicators
Observing
• observe objects or events in a variety of ways using one or
more of the senses
• identify properties of an object, i.e. shape, color, size, and
texture.
• use indirect methods, i.e. hand lenses, microscopes,
thermometers, to observe objects and events.
• observe objects or events by counting, comparing, estimating
and measuring.
Classifying
•
identify properties useful for classifying objects
•
group objects by their properties or similarities and differences
•
construct and use classification systems
Inferring
•
suggest explanations for events based on observations
•
distinguish between an observation and an inference
Predicting
•
forecast a future event based on prior experience, i.e.
observations, inferences or experiments.
Measuring
•
compare and order objects by length, area, weight, volume, etc.
•
measure properties of objects or events by using standardized units
of measure.
•
measure volume, mass, weight, temperature, area, length, and time
using appropriate units and appropriate measuring instruments.
Communicating
• construct and use written reports, drawings, diagrams, graphs, or
charts to transmit information learned from science experiments
• verbally ask questions about, discuss, explain, or report observations.
• after an investigation, report the question tested, the
experimental design used, results, and conclusions drawn, using
tables and graphs where appropriate.
Using
Space/Time
Relations
•
describe an object's position, i.e., above, below, beside, etc. in
relation to other objects
•
describe the motion, direction, spatial arrangement, symmetry,
and shape of an object compared to another object.

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Defining
Operationally
•
state definitions of objects or events in terms of what the object
is doing or what is occurring in the event
•
state definitions of objects or events based on observable
characteristics
Formulating
Hypotheses
•
identify questions or statements which can and cannot be tested
•
design statements, i.e., questions, inferences, predictions, which
can be tested by an experiment.
Experimenting
•
design an investigation to test a hypothesis
•
conduct simple experiments
•
recognize limitations of methods and tools used in experiments,
i.e., experimental error
•
utilize safe procedures while conducting investigations.
Recognizing
Variables
•
identify the manipulated (independent) variable, responding
(dependent) variable, and variables-held-constant in an
experiment.