Page 9 - 新思维科学学生用书5 样章

Working like a scientist

Identifying and classifying

Identifying is the process of naming something, for example

an apple or an orange. We can name them because they have
features we recognise. Classifying is organising things

into groups. We classify objects, materials and living

things in groups by looking at the ways in which they
are similar or different. We can usually classify these

things by asking a series of ‘yes or no’ questions.
For example, does a flower have brightly coloured

petals? Does the flower have a scent? The answers

to these questions will help us decide if the flower is
pollinated by insects or wind.

Pattern seeking

Pattern seeking involves observing, recording and analysing

data. The patterns we observe can help us to identify a trend or
relationships between one or more things. We often find

patterns in nature where we cannot easily control the

variables. For example:
• a pattern in the relationship between seed size and

the time it takes a seed to germinate

• a pattern in the type of material that sound travels
through best.

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