Transcript Env Chp 2 Tools - ThirdPeriodESci

Tools of Environment Science
(Using your Head)
Objective – September 29, 2010
Review of the Scientific Method
Learn the steps and differentiating
hypothesis from prediction.
The amazing Kreskin (aka Mrs
Beachy)
Name that Park
Explain what happened
Make a prediction
What’s Important
Meet with your group of five or six
students
Read through Chapter 2, Section 1
Write on the newsprint around the
room “Important Points” and
“Important Vocabulary”
1. Observation
Piece of
information we
gather using our
senses:
Hear, see, touch,
smell, taste
Build Your Skills
Choose a partner
Each chooses a different object in the
room.
Each rights five observations about
your object
Switch objects
Compare your observations
Extension of senses : Tools
2. Hypothesis
Testable
explanation for an
observation
More than a guess
Logical and follows
from what is known
3. Prediction
- a logical
statement about
what would happen
if the hypothesis
was correct
4. Experiment –
procedure
designed to test a
hypothesis under
controlled
conditions
Variable – the factor of interest
To test for one
variable, scientists
usually study at
least two groups
Experimental
Group
Control Group
The variable being studies is the
only difference between groups
Experimental –
group that receives
the experimental
treatment
Control – group
that does not
receive the
experimental
treatment
Used for
comparison
Data- information that a scientist
gathers during an experiment
Tables, graphs
and charts
help to
organize data
collected
5. Conclusion
- found after
analyzing and
comparing results
of data
Not always
obvious!
Repeating, repeating, repeating…
The more times an
experiment can be
repeated giving the
same results, the
more reliable the
conclusion can be.
Scientifics Habits of Mind
1. Curiosity
2. Habit of Skepticism
3. Openess to New Ideas
4. Intellectual Honesty
5. Imagination & Curiosity
October 1, 2010 Objective
To apply the scientific method
To define our personal learning style
Asking questions
Give examples of questions people
may ask
Which can scientists answer?
The Net News
Wiki address:
www.ThirdPeriodESci.wikispaces.com
Hallahan email:
mail.jwhallahan.com
Username: (student #)
Password: (student #)
Gradeconnect:
www.adphila.gradeconnect.com
Username: JH(student #)
Password: (student #)
Identifying scientific methods
With a partner, read the article,
highlight and label parts of the article
that demonstrate the Scientific
Method.
Geothermal drilling
Objectives – October 4
Learning Style Preferences
Learn how scientist use statistics
How important is sample size
Types of scientific models
That’s My Birthday
Let’s look at our sample
In a class of 23 at least statistically
two will share a birthday
Graphs: Bar, Line Pie
Bar Graph - visual display used to
compare the amounts or frequency of
occurrence of different characteristics of
data.
Height distribution
Let’s talk about a bar graph
Sampling
30% purple
20% red, yellow
10% orange, green, blue
Five by Two
Look at our colors
October 6, 2010
Objective:
Models, Statistics, Probability
Building a scale model
Lightning Strikes Twice
“The Great Outdoors”
What are the odds of being hit by
lightning?
Line Graph
A line graph is most useful in displaying
data or information that changes
continuously over time
Pie Graph
a circle graph divided into pieces, each displaying
the size of some related piece of information.
Pie charts are used to display the sizes of parts
that make up some whole.
Correlation - method used when
experiments cannot be performed
Reliable
associations
between two or
more events
STATISTICS
Statistics – collection and
classification of data that are
in the form of numbers
Statistics are often used to sell and
advertise products
“95% of students drink Cola “X”
How Scientists Use Statistics
Data can be easily
Summarized
Characterized
Analyzed
Compared
Populations
A statistical
population is a
group of
similar things a
scientist is
interested in
learning about
Mean – Sounds like an Average
Mean- Add up
data about a
certain
characteristic
which is being
studied and then
divide by number
of individuals
Length of kitten tail
Kitten #1
15 cm
Kitten #2
18 cm
Kitten #3
20 cm
15+18=20 = 53 cm
53/ 3 kittens
Mean = 17.6 cm
The Distribution– arrangement of the
members of a statistical population
October 7, 2010
Objective: Understand a statistical
population, Bell and J curves, scale
Activities:
Enter important terms on quizlet
Join the wiki
Draw a scale model of the classroom
In normal distribution the data are grouped
symmetrically around the mean. Bell Curve
Probability
The chance that
something MAY
happen is
probability.
If you toss a
penny, what si the
chance that it will
be heads??
Answer:
Half and half
Or 50%
Suppose you toss a
coin 10 times.
7out of the 10 times it
comes up tails.
Is the statistic wrong?
NO !! Your sample size was too
small
Sample size –
number of objects
or events used in
study
Sample – group of
individuals or
events chosen to
represent the
population
Risk
Risk is the
probability of an
unwanted outcome
Models
In Science
Models are
representations of
objects or systems
Physical Models
Physical models
are 3-dimensional
objects that you
can touch
Graphical Models
Maps and charts
Conceptual
verbal or graphical
How a system works or is organized
Mathematical model
Bell Ringer
In your copybook write down a
personal problem that presented a
difficult decision.
Consider how you usually approach
decisions
How do you weigh what is important
to you?
October 12, 2010
Objectives:
Complete all online work
Learn components of sound
(environmental) decision making
Wrap-up of Chapter 2
Definitions
Decision making model-conceptual
model that provides systematic
process for making decisions
Value- principles or standards we
consider important
DECISION MAKING MODEL
Gather Information
Consider Values
Explore
Consequences
Make a Decision
Long-term vs
Short-term
Environmental Values
Aesthetic – beautiful or pleasing
Economic – gain or loss of money or jobs
Environmental – protection of natural
resources
Ethical/Moral – what is right or wrong
Health – maintenance of human health
Recreational – human leisure activities
Scientific – understanding of the natural
world
Social/cultural – maintenance of human
communities and their values and traditions
Problem #1
You live in a town with a coal-fired power
plant nearby. Many people are employed
by the power plant and at a nearby coal
mine. A neighboring county, which is
generally more affluent, is building a wind
farm to generate electricity. The wind
farm will be operational in a few years.
The press has raised the question of
whether the existing plant should be
closed.
Using the Environmental Values Table
(pg 45) write a sentence explaining how
Problem #2
A highly-evolved alien race invaded Earth and is
quickly descending upon your hometown. You
are forced to evacuate immediately, perhaps
leaving your home behind forever. You do not
know where you will go or what you will do next.
There is only time to take 10 items with you.
Food is supplied on the evacuation ship.
Make a list of your 10 items
Together we arrive at a common list
What influenced our decision?