PROCESS SKILLS CENTERS
observe, infer, classify, measure, record data, predict, compare and contrast, plan an investigation
observe, infer, classify, measure, record data, predict, compare and contrast, plan an investigation
- Science starts with observation and wonder!
- Then we make inferences and test them out, making predictions and testing to see if our models work in new situations.
- Ideas are tentative as we work.
- Be careful about inferring connections where there are none (e.g. rash plus fever may be poison ivy plus flu, not flamblutous of the diablutus.)
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/0/3/23036350/6756886.jpg?177)
1. Earthworms (place wet and dry paper towels in a tub with earthworms)
- Do earthworms like it better where it is wet or dry? Make a prediction.
- Devise a test to determine if earthworms like wet or dry material better.
- Write down what your test is and record your results.
2. Mass and Volume of Water (water, scale, cylinder)
- What would be the best way to accurately figure out the mass of one ml of water? (Hint: it is difficult to weigh only one ml of water)
- Do this and record your answer.
3. Mixing water temperatures (hot water, cold water, thermometer, cylinder)
- What is the temperature of the hot water from the kettle in degrees Celsius?
- What is the temperature of the cold water from the tap in degrees Celsius?
- Predict what the temperature of the final mix will be if you mix 50 ml of hot water with 100 ml of cold water.
- Do this and record your result.
4. Magnetic and Not Magnetic (film, screw, cork, copper wire, nickel, etc.)
- Predict which of these objects will be attracted to a magnet.
- Use a magnet to sort the object into two categories "attracted to a magnet" and "not attracted to a magnet." Make a chart.
- Rewrite your statement from 1. to fit your chart better.
5. Heat Transfer (ice cubes, heavy and cold disk, light and room temperature disk)
- Observe the two black disks (or squares) including touching them. Write down your observations.
- Make a prediction which one will melt an ice cube faster.
- Test this and write down what you observe.
6. Floating Eagle (order from: http://www.amazon.com/Toysmith-4035-Balancing-Eagle/dp/B004R6VB2E)
- Observe the eagle.
- What can you infer about why the eagle doesn't fall?
- How could you test this inference?
7. Sound Bottles (2 glass bottles, water)
- Fill one bottle half way with water, and leave the other empty.
- Blow over each bottle and record your results.
- Hit each bottle and record your results.
- What might explain the differences in pitch?
8. Leaky Faucet (faucet, cylinder)
- Turn the faucet on so it is leaking at a slow, steady pace.
- Place the cylinder under the faucet and measure how much water you collect in one minute.
- At this rate, how much water will drip in one hour? In one whole day?
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/0/3/23036350/3901408.jpg?163)
9. Water Drop- Lincoln (http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/free_resources/
teachers_corner/lesson_plans/waterExperiment.jsp)
teachers_corner/lesson_plans/waterExperiment.jsp)
- How many drops of water do you think you can fit on one penny without it spilling over?
- Using a pipet, how many drops of water can you fit on one penny?
- Record your data.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/0/3/23036350/353922.gif)
10. Floating Egg
- Eggs sink in fresh water and float in salt water.
- Given both fresh water and salt water, mix them to form a combination of water that will make the egg float in the middle of the water.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/0/3/23036350/8510836.png)
11. Air Takes up Space
- Cup (A clear cup works best.), a second cup (plastic or Styrofoam) with holes punched in the bottom of it, paper (You will need to wad enough paper to fit firmly in the bottom of the cup so as not to fall out when inverted.), container of water (Must be able to place the entire cup vertically in the water.)
- Crumple up the paper and place it in the bottom of the cup.
- Turn the cup upside down to make sure the paper fits tightly and does not fall out.
- Submerge the upside down cup in the container of water, staying perpendicular to the water surface at all times.
- Once the cup is under water, raise it straight up.
- Notice the paper in the cup is still dry.
- To demonstrate the opposite of a closed container, repeat what was just done with a cup that has holes punched in the bottom of it. The students will be able to observe that the paper gets wet and the air escapes through the holes creating bubbles as it leaves the cup. Since air finds its way out, water is able to enter the cup, therefore wetting the piece of paper.