SCIENCE FOR BEGINNERS

Lesson 2a

Objectives
By the successful completion of this
chapter, you should be able to;

Understand that scientists need to use many process skills to

understand and explain natural phenomena

Explain process skills used in science using suitable examples

Demonstrate the process skills

Differentiate between independent and dependent variables

Explain the need to control variables and how this is done in a

science investigation

Identify the type of graph that would best represent a set of data
collected in a science investigation.

Interpret and make generalized conclusions on trends and

patterns represented by a graph

WHAT ARE PROCESS SKILLS?

What are Science Process Skills?

Science is more than a collection of facts.

Science Process Skills are tools scientist use to:

identify problems
solve problems
Answer questions known about our world or use in
their work to know about the world

Types of Science Process Skills

Process skills maybe grouped into two types:

Primary or basic process skills

Integrated Process skills

Primary Process skills are simpler and provide the basis for
learning the integrated (more complex) skills;

Integrated (more complex) skills: combines and builds on primary

process skills.

1. Observing

Using senses to determine the properties of

an object or event, their characteristics,
properties, differences, similarities and

changes

Must pay close attention to everything

around you and sometimes use instruments

to assist you with your observations.

Observations are recorded.

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How many horses can you see?

2. 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.

2.MEASUREMENT

A number is always associated with this.

Measurement can be for two types of quantities

Basic quantities
(Eg: mass, length, time, temperature)
Derived quantities
( Eg: volume, perimeter, weight, density, power etc)

MEASUREMENT TOOLS
Length linear measurement
base unit : meter
Volume capacity
base unit : liter
Weight mass
base unit : gram

Temperature hot/cold
base unit : Celsius

3. Classifying

Group information, objects or events

together according to their properties
(similarities and differences)

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4. Communicating

Process of describing, recording,

and reporting experimental
procedures and results to others
Process of using words or graphic symbols
to describe an action, object or event.
Oral, written, or mathematical
Example: Describing the change in
height of a plant over time in writing
or through a graph.

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5. Inferring

making an "educated guess" about an object or

event based on previously gathered data or
information.
Example
.saying a person who used the
pencil made a lot of mistakes
because the eraser was well worn.

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6. Predicting

The process of forming an idea of an

expected resultnot a guess but a belief of
what will occur based on present knowledge,
observations, and inferences.

Forecasting a future occurrence based on

past observations or the extension of data
Example: Predicting the height of a
plant in two weeks time based on a
graph of its growth during the previous
four weeks.
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Who uses predictions?

Meteorologist uses weather
trends of the past to predict
todays weather.
Financial advisor predicts
which investments will be
profitable.

Doctors make predictions

of a patients future well
being/health.