THINK LIKE A SCIENTIST
WHAT IS A SCIENTIST?
A scientist is someone who asks questions about the world and tries to find the answers using observations and experiments. Science helps us understand how things work and allows us to make new discoveries. And guess what? You can think like a scientist too!
Observations: Using Your Five Senses
Observing means paying close attention to the world around you. Scientists use their five senses to gather information:
Sight – What do you see? Colors, movement, changes?
Smell – Does it have a scent? Is it strong or faint?
Touch – How does it feel? Is it rough, smooth, sticky, or soft?
Hearing – What sounds does it make? Loud, soft, rhythmic?
Taste – Does it have a flavor? (But be careful! Some things shouldn’t be tasted—like chemicals, dirt, or a strange plant.)
Some things can't be observed with all five senses. For example, you wouldn’t want to touch a poisonous spider or taste an unknown berry. Instead, you might rely on your sight to observe how the spider moves or what the berry looks like.
Examples of Observations in Everyday Life
Watching a caterpillar transform into a butterfly
Feeling the morning air—is it cold? Humid? Windy?
Hearing birds chirping outside and noticing if they sound different in the morning than in the evening
Noticing if the grass is wet after a rainy night
Scientists use their observations to describe the world, learn from it, and answer questions. And you can too!
The Scientific Method: Solving Problems Like a Scientist
Scientists don’t just observe; they also ask questions and test their ideas. They follow a series of steps called the Scientific Method to investigate the world. Let’s walk through these steps with a real-life example!
Meet Sally and Her Scientific Investigation!
Step 1: Observation
Sally loves hiking through a nearby forest. While hiking, she notices that there are no bears during the winter months. This is her observation.
Step 2: Ask a Question
Sally wonders: Why do bears disappear in the winter?
Step 3: Make a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a possible answer to a question. It’s an educated guess based on what you already know.
Sally thinks: Bears sleep during the winter because it is hard to find food when it’s cold.
Step 4: Conduct an Experiment and Collect Data
To test her hypothesis, Sally tracks the amount of food (berries and fish) in the forest during different seasons. She records her data and compares how much food is available in summer versus winter.
Step 5: Analyze the Data
Sally finds that the amount of berries and fish is much lower in the winter than in the summer.
Step 6: Draw a Conclusion
Since there is much less food in the winter, Sally concludes that her hypothesis was correct—bears hibernate because it is hard to find food in the cold months
Why is Science Important?
Science isn’t just for scientists in lab coats. It’s everywhere! It helps us understand and improve our world. Here are some ways science impacts our lives:
Understanding the World – Science helps us learn about nature, space, animals, and more!
New Inventions – Science leads to amazing discoveries like electricity, computers, and medicine.
Keeping Us Healthy – Science helps doctors find cures for diseases and create vaccines. Protecting the Environment – Scientists study pollution, climate change, and ways to keep the planet safe.
And now it’s your turn! Ready to observe, ask questions, and experiment like a scientist? Follow along with our lesson plans and start discovering!
