Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Section 1:
Think Like a Scientist
Science: a way of learning about the natural world and the
knowledge gained by the experience
Science skills: observing, inferring, predicting, classifying,
making models
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Observing
definition: using one or more of your senses to gather
information.
Types of observation
•Quantitative observation: dealing with numbers or amounts
•Qualitative observation: dealing with descriptions that can
be expressed with numbers
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Inferring
definition: process of making an inference, an interpretation
based on observations and prior knowledge
when you infer you make an educated guess as to why what
is happening
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Predicting
definition: making a forecast of what will happen in the
future based on past experience or evidence
predictions are a type of inference about the future
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Classifying
definition: process of grouping together items that are alike
in some way
classifying helps you stay organized
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Making Models
definition: creating representations of complex objects or
processes
models help people understand things that are too complex
or can’t be observed directly
Types of models: physical or electronic
Scale model: accurately shows the proportions between its
parts, can be bigger or smaller than the actual object.
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Thinking Like a Scientist
Inferring When you
explain or interpret
your observations,
you are making
an inference.
Observing By
patiently observing
chimpanzees, Jane
Goodall learned
many things about
chimpanzee behavior.
Prediction
Predictions are
forecasts of what
will happen next.
Classifying
Field notes like these
contain many details
about a chimp’s daily
activities.
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Chimp Food
This graph shows the diet of
chimps at Gombe National Park
during May of one year.
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Fruit, seeds, leaves, meat,
insects, blossoms, and other
foods
Chimp Food
Reading Graphs:
According to the graph, what
foods do chimps eat?
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Chimp Food
Seeds
Interpreting Data:
Did chimps feed more on
seeds or leaves during this
month?
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Chimp Food
95%
Calculating:
What percentage of the diet
did blossoms, seeds, leaves,
and fruit make up?
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Chimp Food
Insects will constitute a much
greater portion of the chimps
diet, with other food
diminishing proportionately.
Predicting:
Suppose you learn that
November is the main
termite-fishing season, when
chimps spend a large part of
their time eating termites.
Predict how the chimp diet
might change in November.
Chapter 1 What is Life Science?
Making Models
Making models involves creating representations of complex
objects or processes. This model traces a chimp’s journey
through the forest.

Life Science Chapter 1, Section 1 Think Like a Scientist

  • 1.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Section 1: Think Like a Scientist Science: a way of learning about the natural world and the knowledge gained by the experience Science skills: observing, inferring, predicting, classifying, making models
  • 2.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Observing definition: using one or more of your senses to gather information. Types of observation •Quantitative observation: dealing with numbers or amounts •Qualitative observation: dealing with descriptions that can be expressed with numbers
  • 3.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Inferring definition: process of making an inference, an interpretation based on observations and prior knowledge when you infer you make an educated guess as to why what is happening
  • 4.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Predicting definition: making a forecast of what will happen in the future based on past experience or evidence predictions are a type of inference about the future
  • 5.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Classifying definition: process of grouping together items that are alike in some way classifying helps you stay organized
  • 6.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Making Models definition: creating representations of complex objects or processes models help people understand things that are too complex or can’t be observed directly Types of models: physical or electronic Scale model: accurately shows the proportions between its parts, can be bigger or smaller than the actual object.
  • 7.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Thinking Like a Scientist Inferring When you explain or interpret your observations, you are making an inference. Observing By patiently observing chimpanzees, Jane Goodall learned many things about chimpanzee behavior. Prediction Predictions are forecasts of what will happen next. Classifying Field notes like these contain many details about a chimp’s daily activities.
  • 8.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Chimp Food This graph shows the diet of chimps at Gombe National Park during May of one year.
  • 9.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Fruit, seeds, leaves, meat, insects, blossoms, and other foods Chimp Food Reading Graphs: According to the graph, what foods do chimps eat?
  • 10.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Chimp Food Seeds Interpreting Data: Did chimps feed more on seeds or leaves during this month?
  • 11.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Chimp Food 95% Calculating: What percentage of the diet did blossoms, seeds, leaves, and fruit make up?
  • 12.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Chimp Food Insects will constitute a much greater portion of the chimps diet, with other food diminishing proportionately. Predicting: Suppose you learn that November is the main termite-fishing season, when chimps spend a large part of their time eating termites. Predict how the chimp diet might change in November.
  • 13.
    Chapter 1 Whatis Life Science? Making Models Making models involves creating representations of complex objects or processes. This model traces a chimp’s journey through the forest.

Editor's Notes