8th- Unit 0: Science 101

Unit 0 Objectives

●Students will define science.

●Students know the three branches of science

●Students define scientific theory.

●Students define scientific law.

●Students know the steps of the scientific method.

●Students define hypothesis.

●Students work through the steps of the scientific method.

●Students learn how science is in our everyday lives

●Students know how to create a graph for their data.

●Students can make inferences and draw conclusions looking at graphs.

What is Science?

●Science is the systematic
study of the natural world
through observation and
experimentation

●It aims to understand how
things work and why things
happen

●Science is based on evidence
and logical reasoning

●Can you think of an example of how science affects your daily
life?

The Three Main Branches
of Science

1. Physical Science: Studies
non-living matter and energy

2. Earth Science: Explores the planet
Earth and its systems

3. Life Science: Investigates living
organisms and their interactions

●

Which branch of science interests
you the most? Why?

Physical Science: Matter and Energy

●Includes subjects like physics and chemistry

●Studies the properties and behavior of matter

●Explores energy and its various forms

●Examples: motion, electricity, chemical reactions

●Can you name an everyday example of a
physical science concept?

Earth Science: Our Planet and Beyond

●Focuses on the Earth's
structure, processes, and
history

●Includes geology, meteorology,
and astronomy

●Studies topics like plate
tectonics, weather patterns,
and the solar system

●Can you think of a job/career
in Earth Science?

Life Science: The Study of Living Things

●Explores the diversity, structure, and function of living
organisms

●Includes biology, ecology, and genetics

●Investigates topics like evolution, ecosystems, and cell
biology

Everyday Use of "Theory"

●In everyday language, "theory" often
means: A guess or hunch, or an idea
without much evidence

Examples of everyday use:

●"I have a theory about why the dog
is barking."

●"My theory is that aliens built the
pyramids."

Scientific Definition of Theory

●In science, a theory is: A well-supported
explanation of a natural phenomenon
based on a large amount of evidence

●Tested and supported by multiple
experiments and observations

Examples of scientific theories:

●Theory of Evolution

●Cell Theory

●Can you see how this definition differs
from the everyday use?

●Why do you think it's important to
understand this distinction?

Scientific Law vs. Scientific Theory

●Scientific Law:A statement that
describes a natural phenomenon

○Based on repeated
observations and
measurements

○Example: Law of Gravity

●Scientific Theory: A
well-supported explanation of a
natural phenomenon

○Supported by a large body of
evidence

○Example: Theory of Evolution

The Scientific Method

1. Make an observation/Ask a
Question

2. Do background research

3. Form a hypothesis

4. Test your hypothesis through
experimentation

5. Analyze your results

6. Draw a conclusion

1. Make an Observation/Ask a Question

●As scientists, we observe! You will do
this throughout the year with your
scientific notebooks!

○Ex: When I eat a bag of Orville
Redenbacher popcorn I feel more
full.

○The bowl is filled more when I
pop O.R. brand popcorn vs Pop
Secret.

●After making an observation, we ask a
question.

○Make sure it is testable!

○Ex: What brand of popcorn leaves the
least amount of unpopped kernels
after 2:30 minutes in the microwave?

2. Research

●Do some research about your
topic.

●Find out if there have been
other studies about it.

●Specific facts about your topic.

●Use reliable sources !
○Stay away from blogs,
wikipedia, etc.

○Look for dates, authors,
organization names

●Keep your sources

A study done in 2018 showed that
Orville Redenbacher popcorn was
the #1 brand for most kernels
popped in a microwave when put
up against Act II popcorn.

The average time for the popcorn
button on a microwave is 2:28
seconds.

Sources: __________________

3. Form a Hypothesis

Your science teacher may have told you that a hypothesis is an
educated guess in elementary school, but it's actually more than
that!!!

3. Form a Hypothesis

Hypothesis:a possible solution to a problem or possible answer to a scientific
question, based on prior knowledge, research, and reasoned logic

-A hypothesis is based on reasoned logic and prior knowledge. There must be
some well-thought out reason behind a hypothesis. It is more than just a guess—it
is an educated and informed possible answer taken from something that we
already know.

3. Form a Hypothesis

●Use your background knowledge and research to write your hypothesis in the
IF, THEN format.

●Be specific! Tell how you will measure your results!

If _(what you are going to do to test your question)__, then, _(your predicted
results)_____.

If I pop an Orville Redenbacher and a SMART-POP bag of popcorn for 2:30
seconds in the microwave, then the Orville Redenbacher popcorn brand bag will
have the least amount of unpopped kernels.

4. Test Your Hypothesis

Write and carry out your procedure.

Write it out in steps in the form of a list (no minimum, maximum # steps but be specific!
Like you were explaining it to a first grader!) , and create a list of materials needed.

Materials: Microwave, timer, Orville Redenbacher popcorn bag (x2), SMART-POP
popcorn bag (x2) , 4 medium-large size bowls

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

5. Analyze Your Results

●Look at your results and ask questions about it to draw conclusions.

○Which brand of popcorn had the highest amount of unpopped kernels?

○Which brand of popcorn had the least amount of unpopped kernels?

○Which brand of popcorn is cheaper?

○Which brand of popcorn will give me more popcorn for my money?

AND THEN GRAPH YOUR RESULTS:))) which we will review next week!

Orville Redenbacher

SMART-POP

Trial 1

12

21

Trial 2

17

24

​$0.49 bag

​$0.52 bag

Blue -Trial1

Red- Trial 2

6. Draw a Conclusion

Look at your analysis and make a conclusion:)

DO NOT WRITE:

In conclusion, ……

The brand of popcorn with the least amount of unpopped kernels after 2:30 in the
microwave was the Orville Redenbacher popcorn bag. My hypothesis was correct.

Science in Everyday
Life

●

Science is all around us,
even when we don't realize it!

●

Cooking (chemistry)

●

Using smartphones (physics
and engineering)

●

Growing plants (biology)

●

Weather forecasts
(meteorology)