Scientific Inquiry/Method

Scientific Method
Purpose
Materials
Hypothesis
Procedure
Observation
Conclusion

Purpose
WHY you are doing the
experiment. What you are
trying to find out.

Hypothesis

Educated guess as to
what you think will
happen.

Materials

Supplies you need to

complete your
experiment.

Procedure
(also called experiment or investigation

Step-by-step process
that you do to answer
your question (purpose).

Observation
(also called analyze)

Using your senses to

gather and record
information.

Conclusion
The end of your
experiment. Was your
hypothesis correct?

Data
Information collected
during your
investigation.

Variable

Anything that can change

in an experiment.
(example: amount of
water)

Trial

To repeat a test or an
observation.

Fair Test
When you keep everything the same except
for what you are testing.

Classify

Arrange into categories

or groups based on
similarities.

Evidence

To prove something
with support.

Ecosystems

Organism

A living thing.

Population
the same organism living
in the same area.
ex. a family a deer in the
woods

Community
A group of different organism living in the
same area.
ex. rabbits, deer, snakes, mice living in the
woods

Factors that affect population

Food:Plants make their own food and
animals need food for energy. There is a
limited amount of food available.
Water:Plants and animals need water to
help them grow.
Light: Plants make their own food from the
sun. If there was no sun, we would not have
food.
Living Space:organisms need enough room
to live and obtain resources (food).

Habitat
The environment where
an organism lives.

Niche
The role that the
organism plays in the
environment.
(ex. a giraffe eats from
the top of the tree)

Competition
organisms trying to get the
same food, water, etc. when
there is a limited supply
(ex.a tall tree and short tree
trying to get sunlight)

Symbiosis
The relationship between two
organisms living together in the same
environment.

Mutualism
A relationship between
two different kinds of
organisms in which both
organisms benefit.

Commensalism
A relationship between
two different kinds of
organisms in which one
organism is helped and
the other is not harmed
nor helped.

Parasitism
A relationship between
two different kinds of
organisms in which one
organism is helped and the
other is harmed.

Producer
An organism that makes
its own food.

Photosynthesis
The process of using the energy in
sunlight to make food from water
and carbon dioxide.

Consumer
An organism that gets
energy by eating other
organisms.

Decomposer
An organism that gets
energy by feeding on dead
materials and waste.

Herbivore
An animal that eats only
plants or plant products.

Omnivore
An animal that eats both
plants and animals.

Carnivore
An animal that eats other
animals.

Scavenger
an animal that feeds on dead plants and
animals.
ex. a vulture

Prey
An animal that is hunted,
caught, and eaten by
another animal.

Predator
An animal that hunts,
catches, and eats another
animal.

Food Chain
The path of food energy
from one organism to
another in an ecosystem.

Food Web
Overlapping food chains
with different pathways
for the flow of food energy
in an ecosystem.

INVASIVE SPECIES- oh no!

Invasive Species
a species that is introduced to a new
environment and is considered nonnative. This species harms the new
environment.

WRITE ON!!
Explain the difference between native and
invasive plants. Discuss
the pros and cons of the various methods
used to eradicate (get rid of) the nonnative species?

Method:

Method

PROS

PROS

CONS

CONS

Endangered Species
an organism that is considered high risk for
extinction.