1. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
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2. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
The Role of Scientists
• Science is the study of the natural world.
• A scientist asks questions about the natural
world.
• There are many kinds of scientists and many
questions to ask.
• Scientists work alone and in teams.
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3. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
The Role of Scientists
• Earth scientists study things like rocks, weather,
and the planets.
• Physical scientists study matter and energy.
• Life scientists study living things.
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4. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
Making Observations and
Asking Questions
• Scientists make observations about the world
around them.
• An observation is information collected by using
the five senses.
• Scientists ask questions about their observations.
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5. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
Making Observations and Asking
Questions
• Scientists conduct an investigation to answer
their questions.
• The steps of an investigation may include asking
questions, making observations, reading or talking
to experts, drawing conclusions, and sharing what
you learn.
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6. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
Experiments
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A Fair Test
• An experiment is a fair test. An experiment can
show that one thing causes another thing to
happen.
• In each experiment, you change only one factor,
or variable.

7. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
A Fair Test
• To be fair and accurate, you conduct the
experiment multiple times.
• To test something else, you must start a new
experiment.
• Being creative and working in teams can help
scientists conduct experiments.
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8. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
Scientific Methods
• Scientific investigations use scientific methods.
• Scientific methods may include the following
activities: make observations, ask a question,
form a hypothesis, plan and conduct an
experiment, record and analyze results, draw
conclusions, communicate results.
• A hypothesis is an idea or explanation that can
be tested with an investigation.
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9. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
Other Kinds of Investigations
• Many science questions cannot be answered by
doing an experiment.
• Some science questions can be answered by using
an investigation guide.
• Other science questions can be answered by using
models or tools.
• Some science questions can be answered with
research. Research includes reading what others
have written and asking experts.
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10. Unit 1 Lesson 1 What Do Scientists Do?
Scientists Share Their Results
as Evidence
• When scientists explain how things work, they
must give evidence.
• Evidence is data gathered during an investigation.
Evidence might support your hypothesis, or it
might not.
• A conclusion is an explanation that is based
on evidence.
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