The Science Process Skills are the skills or tools scientists use to investigate

the world around them. The skills are also used to construct science concepts,
discover new ideas, or to prove or disprove theories. The following are some basic
science process skills every scientist needs to know. The process skills are not used
in any specific order. The best scientists use all of the tools available to them.
Observation is using the five senses (seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and
tasting) to identify or learn about an object or event. An example may include
watching a goldfish to see if it swims in a certain pattern, or testing certain food items
to identify the flavor.
Inferring means to form an idea from facts or the observations that are made.
Continuing to use the goldfish as an example, a scientist may infer that a goldfish is
ready to eat when it begins to swim in a specific pattern.
Classifying is placing things together that share the same properties into a
group. While tasting different food items a scientist could group the salty, sweet, and
sour into three separate groups.
A scientist would use measuring to find size, distance, area, volume, weight,
temperature, mass, or weight of an object or event. While studying the goldfish the
temperature of the water is taken to discover if it has any effect on the swimming
patterns of the goldfish.
Communication is very important for scientists. They use effective
communication to share information with others who may want to repeat an
experiment or observation. Sharing the information about the taste of food could help
change a recipe.
Prediction is stating the possible results of an event, idea, or experiment. The
scientist may predict what a goldfish would do if it had to swim in cold water. While
watching the fish the scientist may write down the information to discover if the
prediction came true.
Interpreting data means gathering all of the information about an event, object,
or experiment and use it to answer questions or solve problems. Gathering all of the
information about the different tastes of food may solve why some people do not eat
certain foods.
Using variables means to identify things in an experiment that either can be
changed or controlled. In the example, the scientist might identify the size of the fish
bowl, source of water, or time of day as a variable that can be changed or controlled.
Hypothesizing is one of the most used tools for a scientist. It is making a
statement that can be tested to answer a question. After the different goldfish
observations, a hypothesis could be: Goldfish will swim in different patterns
depending on the temperature of the water. The hypothesis could then be tested by
other scientists and proved or disproved.
The science process skills are important tools for scientists. Some of the other
process skills include experimenting, using numbers, making models, and recording
conclusions and results. The science process skills are the basic tools scientists use
to investigate the objects and events in the world and throughout the universe.

Multiple Choice. Choose the LETTER of the 9) Which science process skill uses numbers to
BEST ANSWER describe an object?
A. Inferring B. Predicting
1) Which of the following is the best science C. Experimenting D. Measuring
process skill to use by a scientist who is reading 10) Which science process skill involves making
information written by Albert Einstein? up categories or grouping things together?
A: Classifying B: Measuring A. Experimenting B. Measuring
C: Interpreting data D: Predicting C. Classifying D. Analyzing
2) Which of the following is the best science Data
process skill to use by a scientist studying the 11) Which science process skill uses a test under
migration of birds? controlled conditions?
A: Experimenting B: Inferring A. Measuring B.
C: Using variables D: Predicting Experimenting
3) Which of the following is the best science C. Collecting Information D. Inferring
process skill to use by a scientist deciding what 12)Which science process skill involves sharing
might happen when a hamster is placed in a maze? ideas through talking and listening, drawing and
A: Predicting B: Classifying labeling pictures, graphs, etc.?
C: Interpreting data D: Observing A. Predicting B. Experimenting
4) The scientist was looking outside the window of C. Measuring D. Communicating
the lab and saw that the sidewalk was wet and told 13) Which science process skill involves guessing
the other scientist it must have rained. This is an what might happen in the future?
example of A. Inferring B. Experimenting
A: Interpreting data B: Inferring C. Predicting D. Communicating
C: Hypothesizing D: Observing 14) The boy has on a blue jacket. This is an
5) When a worm is placed inside a boxful of soil, it example of a(n):
will dig its way to the bottom. The statement is an A. Inference B. Observation
example of which of the following? C. Prediction D. Hypothesis
A: Observation B: Inferring 15) The boy has on a blue jacket because it is cold
C: Measuring D: Hypothesizi outside. This is an example of a(n):
ng A. Observation B. Inference
6) It is important to use effective communication C. Prediction D. Hypothesis
because 16) If it is cold outside, then the boy will wear his
A: Other scientists may want to read about an blue jacket. This is an example of a(n):
experiment, observation, or event A. Observation B. Inference
B: Scientists might be working on something C. Prediction D. Hypothesis
similar and will use the information to help with 17) I think that the boy will wear his blue jacket the
their research next time it is cold outside. This is an example of
C: Another scientist might interpret the information a(n):
differently A. Observation B. Inference
D: All of the above C. Prediction D. Hypothesis
7) Which science process skill involves using your 18) The cashier counted the money in the drawer
five senses to describe what is seen, heard, felt, after she ended her shift. This is an example of
smelt, and tasted? a(n):
A. Inferring B. Predicting A. Inference B.
C. Measuring D. Observing Measurement
8) Which science process skill is an explanation of C. Experiment D. Hypothesis
observations? 19) The soccer player wanted to see if he would
A. Inferring B. Predicting win his game if he wore his lucky socks. This is an
C. Measuring D. Observing example of a(n):
A. Inference B. Observation
C. Experiment D. Prediction
20) In the eight station science lab, what science
skill were you using when you had to read the
graphs about temperature?
A. Inferring B. Predicting
C. Analyzing Data D.
Experimenting