The Nature of Science, Part 1

The Nature of Science, Part 1

The Nature of Science, Part 1
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 9 to 11
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	9.95

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		forgo, health-kick, king-size, natural-born, nonfat, sophomore, fascination, experimentation, analysis, unsuspecting, suspense, understandable, lunchtime, nationwide, analyze, ponder
	content words:		On Wednesdays, Surprise Lasagna, In The Nature

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The Nature of Science, Part 1
By Trista L. Pollard

¹ Our fascination with nature begins with our first observation of a butterfly gliding freely through air or of our first mud pie standing at attention on the pavement. We are natural-born scientists! Once we enter school, we begin our formal study of science disciplines. Teachers explain the nature of science (observation and experimentation), and we are taught to model the scientific process when we conduct our research. Within the model of the scientific process, there are clear logical guidelines for solving scientific problems called the scientific method. However, before you go out testing and researching every observation you make in nature, you should know a few scientific terms.

² As scientists, you have already made two important assumptions about nature- it is understandable and predictable. You have also figured out that even though this is true, nature also has complex systems. This is why you need those logical and clear steps to conduct research. Take for example, the cafeteria at lunchtime. Everyday, you make careful observations about the behavior of your peers during your forty minutes of freedom. If you are bored, you even use your observations to develop questions about your peers' activities. After the simple questions are asked (in your mind of course), you develop a hypothesis to explain these questions. Of course, your hypothesis is based on facts you have collected from witnessing these events each day.

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