Welcome to PSC 1210Welcome to PSC 1210

Earth and Space Science for Earth and Space Science for

K-8 TeachersK-8 Teachers

Goals of PSC 1210Goals of PSC 1210

Understand important concepts in Understand important concepts in Earth and Space ScienceEarth and Space Science

Develop science process skillsDevelop science process skillsAppreciate and apply the scientific Appreciate and apply the scientific

methodmethodLearn using techniques you will Learn using techniques you will

apply as a teacherapply as a teacher

Some Science TerminologySome Science Terminology

scientific fact scientific fact – specific, verifiable – specific, verifiable informationinformation

   *Sulfur is a yellow mineral.*Sulfur is a yellow mineral.*Granite is an igneous rock.*Granite is an igneous rock.

  hypothesis hypothesis – possible action and/or – possible action and/or

explanation for a behavior or an explanation for a behavior or an observation; must be tested through observation; must be tested through experimentationexperimentation

   *Magnetism is based on electron *Magnetism is based on electron associationsassociations

Some Science TerminologySome Science Terminologylawlaw - generalized statement of a relationship - generalized statement of a relationship

between variables in a system based on repeated between variables in a system based on repeated experimentation; can be used to predict behavior experimentation; can be used to predict behavior of a systemof a system

**As the temperature of a gas increases, its As the temperature of a gas increases, its volume increases.volume increases.

theorytheory - generalized explanation for observations - generalized explanation for observations based on repeated experimentation or based on repeated experimentation or observationsobservations

   *Gas behavior such as expansion with heat or *Gas behavior such as expansion with heat or increased pressure with decreasing volume is a increased pressure with decreasing volume is a result of particles that are far apart and moving result of particles that are far apart and moving rapidly.rapidly.

Some Science TerminologySome Science Terminology

scientific beliefscientific belief something that is accepted as something that is accepted as true based on scientific evidence but cannot be true based on scientific evidence but cannot be proven at that time proven at that time 

*All protons are identical.*All protons are identical.

*The sun will rise tomorrow.*The sun will rise tomorrow.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Make an observation that raises a Make an observation that raises a questionquestion State a questionState a question

Determine a possible reason for the Determine a possible reason for the observation observation

Pose a hypothesisPose a hypothesisDesign and carry out an investigation Design and carry out an investigation

to prove or disprove the hypothesisto prove or disprove the hypothesis Do an experimentDo an experiment

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Compile information from the Compile information from the experiment and decide if the experiment and decide if the hypothesis was correcthypothesis was correct

Analyze/Make a conclusionAnalyze/Make a conclusion

If the conclusion or experimental If the conclusion or experimental process raises other questions, process raises other questions, start the process again.start the process again.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

• Understand variables:Understand variables:– IndependentIndependent variable = one changed by variable = one changed by

the experimenterthe experimenter– DependentDependent variable = one that changes variable = one that changes

as a result of a change in the as a result of a change in the independent variableindependent variable

– ControlledControlled variable = any property that variable = any property that is not being investigated and must is not being investigated and must remain the same during the experimentremain the same during the experiment

Scientific MethodScientific MethodMake an observation that raises a Make an observation that raises a

question.question. Do birds prefer red or blue bird Do birds prefer red or blue bird feeders?feeders?

Determine a possible reason for the Determine a possible reason for the observation. observation. Pose a hypothesis. Pose a hypothesis.

Birds prefer red feeders.Birds prefer red feeders. Design and carry out an investigation to Design and carry out an investigation to

prove or disprove the hypothesisprove or disprove the hypothesisDetermine the variables: Determine the variables: Independent = color of the feederIndependent = color of the feederDependent = # of birds at the Dependent = # of birds at the

feederfeeder

Scientific MethodScientific MethodDetermine the variables: Determine the variables:

Controlled = type of feeder, type Controlled = type of feeder, type of food, time of day recorded, height of of food, time of day recorded, height of feeder, location of feeder…feeder, location of feeder…

Set up 3 blue and three red identical Set up 3 blue and three red identical bird feeders. At a set time each day for bird feeders. At a set time each day for 10 days, record how many birds are at 10 days, record how many birds are at each feeder. Record data in a suitable each feeder. Record data in a suitable table.table.

Scientific MethodScientific Method

Compile information from the Compile information from the experiment.experiment.

Analyze the data. Make a bar graph Analyze the data. Make a bar graph of the number of birds at each color of the number of birds at each color feeder for each day.feeder for each day.

Decide if the hypothesis was correct.Decide if the hypothesis was correct.Make a conclusionMake a conclusion

The birds prefer a red feeder The birds prefer a red feeder over a blue feeder.over a blue feeder.

Science Process Skills - Science Process Skills - BasicBasicObservingObservingMeasuringMeasuringClassifyingClassifyingCommunicatinCommunicatin

ggInferringInferringPredictingPredicting

Science Process Skills- Science Process Skills- IntegratedIntegratedControlling VariablesControlling VariablesDefining Defining

OperationallyOperationallyFormulating Formulating

HypothesesHypothesesInterpreting DataInterpreting DataExperimentingExperimentingFormulating ModelsFormulating Models

What is a Misconception?What is a Misconception?

Incorrect understanding of term or Incorrect understanding of term or processprocess

Not merely a misfactNot merely a misfactCan be taught to you or you can Can be taught to you or you can

come to it based on your personal come to it based on your personal experienceexperience

Highly resistant to changeHighly resistant to change

Some Misconceptions in Some Misconceptions in Earth/Space ScienceEarth/Space Science

The seasons are caused The seasons are caused by the Earth’s distance by the Earth’s distance from the Sun.from the Sun.

Continents do not move.Continents do not move.Most rivers flow “down” Most rivers flow “down”

from north to south.from north to south.

Some Misconceptions in Some Misconceptions in Earth/Space ScienceEarth/Space Science

The soil we see today has always The soil we see today has always existed.existed.

Dinosaurs and humans existed at Dinosaurs and humans existed at the same time.the same time.

The phases of the Moon are caused The phases of the Moon are caused by a shadow from the Earth.by a shadow from the Earth.

Lesson Design – The 5 E’sLesson Design – The 5 E’s

EngagementEngagementExplorationExplorationExplanationExplanationExtensionExtensionEvaluationEvaluation

Learning and Assessment Tools Learning and Assessment Tools for PSC 1210for PSC 1210

Guided Inquiry ActivitiesGuided Inquiry ActivitiesQuizzes and Performance Quizzes and Performance

TasksTasksJournalJournalInternet ExplorationsInternet ExplorationsProjectsProjects