Intro and Scientific Method Notes from PPT
Vocabulary				
◦	Observation - use of one or more of the senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and sometimes taste—to gather information
•	Can be qualitative or quantitative (involves numbers)
◦	Data -evidence; information gathered from observations
◦	Inference - logical interpretation based on prior knowledge and experience

 Hypothesis
•	A proposed scientific answer to a question.
•	Should be proposed in a way that it can be tested.
What is Science?	
•	Textbook:  An organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.
•	Write this definition in your own words…
•	What is spontaneous generation?
Francesco Redi’s experiment
◦	A theory is a well-tested hypothesis  **No theory is ever considered absolute truth.
Setting up a controlled experiment:
•	Factors about the experiment that can change are called variables.
•	Example:  When experimenting with plants, what are some variables that could change during the experiment?

•	It is best to change only one variable at a time during a controlled experiment.
•	Independent variable - the variable that is deliberately changed in an experiment

Groups
•	Experimental Group
◦	An experimental group is the group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested. One variable (the independent variable) is tested at a time.

•	Control Group
◦	A control group is a group separated from the rest of the experiment where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.
Checkup!
•	1.)  What is inference?

•	2.)  What is one characteristic of a good hypothesis?

•	3.)  How do you test a hypothesis?

•	4.)  What did Francesco Redi’s experiment disprove?    
Checkup (answers)
•	1.)  What is inference?
        An inference is a logical assumption based on some knowledge/testing of the subject.

•	2.)  What is one characteristic of a good hypothesis?  
        A good hypothesis is testable; it is sometimes formed with an if-then statement.
Checkup (answers)
•	3.)  How do you test a hypothesis?
       A hypothesis can be tested by controlled experiment or collecting more data.

•	4.)  What did Francesco Redi’s experiment disprove?    
       Francesco Redi’s experiment disproved spontaneous generation, it proved that maggots come from flies laying their eggs on food.
•	Problem
◦	Observation
◦	Question
•	Research

•	Hypothesis

•	Experiment
◦	Test and retest 

•	Data 
◦	Observe, Record, and Analyze Results
•	Conclusion
◦	Publish (Report)
◦	Repeat Investigations (Experiments) by others
When Experiments are Not Possible
•	When natural occurrences must not be disturbed
◦	Learn how animals interact in the wild
•	Ethical considerations 
◦	Determine the effect of a chemical on humans

Checkup!     
* Write questions and answers!

•	1.  Factors that can be changed in an experiment are called _____________.

•	2.  __________ is an organized way of using evidence to learn about the natural world.

•	3.  In your own words, what is the difference between quantitative and qualitative observations?

Studying Life
•	Biology ---      bios means “life”                 -logy means “study of”

Characteristics of Living Things
•	Living things:
◦	are made up of cells
◦	reproduce
◦	Have DNA (genetic code)
◦	grow and develop
◦	obtain and use materials and energy
◦	respond to their environment
◦	maintain homeostasis (a stable internal environment)
◦	as a group, living things change (evolve) over time 

Classwork   

•	1.)  What characteristics of life do both the bear and the salamander have?

•	2.)  How does the salamander obtain the energy it needs to live?

•	3.)  Where do the giant redwoods and other plants obtain the energy they need to live?

Classwork    
•	1.  What is homeostasis?  

•	2.  Give an example of how homeostasis is maintained.

•	3.  _____________ includes all the chemical reactions that take place in an organism.

•	4.  What is the difference between how light microscopes and electron microscopes produce an image?
   Study Tips
•	Review the Powerpoint
•	Reread your notes
•	Quiz yourself on the vocabulary words
•	Study for at least an hour the night before the test / quiz