1. WHAT ARE THE
PROCESSES OF SCIENCE?

2. SCIENCE IS A WAY OF LEARNING
ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD.
The processes of science include:
• Observing
• Inferring
• Predicting
• Classifying
• Evaluating
• Making models
• Conducting scientific experiments

3. OBSERVING
Qualitative
• Descriptions that cannot be
expressed in numbers
Quantitative
• Numbers or amounts
Using one or more of your senses to gather accurate information
Circular
Liquid

4. INFERRING
The girl is celebrating her birthday.
*This is an inference because we are explaining the
observation of the balloons as a sign of a birthday.
Explaining or interpreting the things you observed

5. YOUR TURN!
Identify each statement as either a
qualitative observation, quantitative
observation, or an inference.
1. The classroom walls are yellow.
2. Sixteen students were present for roll call.
3. The chalkboard is 1 meter high and 2
meters wide.
4. The friendliest people were there first.
5. The empty aquarium tank is waterproof.

6. WERE YOU CORRECT?
Qualitative Quantitative Inference
1. The classroom walls are yellow.
2. Sixteen students were present for roll call.
3. The chalkboard is 1 meter high and 2 meters
wide.
4. The friendliest people were there first.
5. The empty aquarium tank is waterproof.

7. PREDICTING
The girl will have cake and open
presents later.
Making a statement or claim about what will happen in the future based
on past experience or evidence.

8. CLASSIFYING
Grouping together of items that are alike in some ways.

9. MAKING MODELS
Creating representations of complex objects or processes.

10. EVALUATING
Comparing observations and data to reach a conclusion about them.
Type of Year Average Number of
Hurricanes
Normal Year 5.8
El Nino Year 4
*Evaluation - There tends to be less hurricanes during an El Nino year.

11. SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
The way in which scientists study the natural world.
1. Question
2. Observe/Research
3. Hypothesize/Predict
4. Test/Make Models
5. Evaluate
6. Conclude