What are science process skills?
Science process skills are the ways we work like real scientists. We use them to find out about the world around us. When you look at a plant, sort your toys, or time a race, you are already using these skills!
Key idea
The basic science process skills are: observe, classify, measure, infer, predict and communicate.
Using our senses and tools
We observe by using our five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. We classify when we group things by their common features, like sorting animals into birds and fish. We measure to compare things using units, and we use tools such as a ruler for length, a thermometer for temperature and a stopwatch for time.
Example
You see dark clouds in the sky (observe). You say it may rain soon (predict). This is science thinking!
Thinking skills
We infer when we give a reason for what we see, and we predict when we say what may happen next based on a pattern. Finally, we communicate by sharing our findings in tables, charts or drawings so others can understand.