Science Process Skills

K 12 Science Course of Study 2007

prepared by C & I Dept., MVESC
J . Funk, et. al., Learning science process skills
xviii
Source: Muskingum Valley ESC


Basic Process Skills
1. Observing The most basic process in which students use the five senses to obtain information about themselves or the world
around them.

2. Classifying A systematic procedure used by a person to impose order on collections of objects or events. To group, place or
order objects or events based on their properties.

3. Communicating To use words or symbols to describe an action, object or event.

4. Measuring To use a standard or nonstandard measurement system to describe or estimate the dimensions of an object or event.

5. Predicting To state the outcomes of a future event based on available information.

6. Inferring To use previously gathered information to make a best conclusion or interpretation.


Integrated Process Skills
7. Questioning To raise an uncertainty, doubt or unsettled issue, which may be based on the perception of a discrepancy between what
is observed and what is known by the questioner.

8. Space/Time The description of spatial relationships and their change with time.
Relationships

9. Constructing a Graph The technique of using spatial relationships and their change with time.

10. Using Numbers The technique of using numbers to express ideas, observations, relationships, etc., often as a complement to words.

11. Recording Data Collecting information in an organized fashion about objects and events that illustrate a specific situation.

12. Making Assumptions The process of accepting previously known information as true for forming the basis for testing a hypothesis.

Science Process Skills
K 12 Science Course of Study 2007

prepared by C & I Dept., MVESC
J . Funk, et. al., Learning science process skills
xix

13. Formulating Models Devising a scheme or structure which will describe specific real objects or events.

14. Hypothesizing Stating a tentative generalization to explain a relatively large number of events which is subject to immediate or
eventual testing by one or more experiments.

15. Experimenting Performing a series of data gathering operations which will test a hypothesis or answer a question.

16. Identifying/Controlling Define variables and describe the relationship between them. Know how to identify and manage the factors that may
influence a situation or event so that the effect of one factor (variable) may be learned.

17. Reducing Experimental The technique of determining the most valid procedures and processes for effective experimentation.
Error

18. Analyzing The process of determining the nature and relationship of the parts of a whole. In an experiment it is the process by
Investigations which one establishes the relationship between controlled factors and the outcome.

19. Interpreting Data Finding a pattern in a collection of data. This process leads to stating a generalization or drawing conclusions. Students
need to acquire and process their own data.

20. Making Conclusions The process of inferring a reasoned judgment using collected data.

21. Evaluating The technique of examining and judging data presented.

22. Generalizing Drawing a general conclusion from the observations available.

23. Defining Operationally Producing definitions of a thing or event in terms that give it a physical description.