Chap+1

= Big Idea: Science is an attempt to understand the natural world in a way that can be agreed upon by all. =

[] == **Essential Question: What are the characteristics of science?** == //Students will learn what characterizes science and scientific explanations and differentiate between science and pseudoscience.//

What is Science?


 * Science ** is the process of observing, studying, and attempting to explain our world. The word science comes from the Latin word // **scire** // which means // to know // . So science means having knowledge.

Science involves making observations in order to solve problems. We are all scientists. We observe and question the things around us. As scientists, we attempt to find answers to questions. Scientists seek facts, and from those facts they propose explanations or theories to explain events they observe in the world. In science, new observations often suggest more new science problems to investigate. Since there are many different types of problems, scientists usually specialized in one area of study. Each branch of science is a different area of study but all branches of science are related. The three main branches of science are: Astronomy Oceanography ||= Zoology Botany Ecology Microbiology ||= Physics Chemistry || In sixth grade, we will explore a little bit of each area of study. Play a game [|here]to learn more about the different scientific fields.
 * bb **Earth and Space Science** dd ||= bbbbbbb **Life Science** bbbbbbb ||= **Physical Science** ||
 * = Geology

What are the character traits of a scientist?

Two of the most common characteristics of scientists are __ curiosity __ and __ patience __. Scientists are __ curious __ about the world around them, and they yearn to learn what makes everything work. Their inquisitiveness keeps them going ahead to the next project and the next experiment.

They also must have patience to undergo the years of work that might be required to make a discovery in a scientific field. A sense of __ optimism __ keeps a scientist performing experiment after experiment, even if most of them fail. Scientists know that failed experiments provide answers as often as successful ones do. This requires a sense of __ self confidence __ as they continue to search for answers. Scientists need patience to repeat experiments multiple times to verify results.

Scientists need to be __ detail oriented __, noticing even tiny observations and remembering and recording them. Their minds tend to be analytical, and they can categorize data in an efficient way so it can be recalled later. They usually have facts and hypotheses from several fields and experiments tucked into their memories so that they can be put together in different combinations to answer questions or provide direction for research.

Being __ open-minded __ is crucial for successful people in science careers. A good scientist will accept whatever outcome his or her work has and not try to force the results into a preformed opinion. A scientist also has __ good ethics __ and will not give false results or shade an experiment to fulfill the expected outcome. He or she will accept the solutions of others, even when they conflict with his or her own.

Most people think of science as an uncreative field, but in reality, scientists must be very __creative__. They ask why something happens or what happens and then devise experiments to answer the question. Their creativity allows them to think outside the box and envision things that cannot be seen. They must be ready to give up old ideas when new ones come along.

The best scientists are __tenacious__ and __determined__. They realize that their life’s work may take decades to reach a conclusion and that they may be starting in the wrong way and need to change course. They also understand that, as they build on the work of scientists from past generations, their own work will likely be proven false by future scientists.

Scientists must be able to __work as part of a team__ or to __work independently__, depending on the need of the project. They must be able to __communicate effectively__, both in writing and in speaking. People in science careers often work alone, but they also must have good networking skills. Joining and participating in scientific associations strengthen the ties in the scientific community, and scientists can help and support one another. A good scientist has the capability of explaining scientific ideas to a person who is not a scientist.

Students will know Unintentional and avoidable errors are a normal part of scientific investigations, and scientists must recognize these and their implications when making conclusions. Communication between scientists and professionals is important for advances in any given field of study. Science knowledge is based upon logical and conceptual connections between evidence and explanations.