Science is a verb. It is a fluid process whereby people try to discover and understand our world.

While science class is considered a subject, we will learn about science in this class as a process.

Hopefully before you walk away from this course in the spring you will know how science works.

First, science is about recognizing phenomena. Natural phenomena are observable events that occur in the universe and that we can use our science knowledge to explain or predict.

For example, I was looking at my fitbit heart rate data. The watches app tracks your average heart rate each day over time.

Does anything stand out in the data?

Phenomenon

Graphs are models used to help understand what is happening.

When I saw that my heart rate dropped below 50 beats per minute, I wondered why.

Wondering and putting a question to the phenomenon is another part of the process.

I questioned, a lot.

"Why did my heart rate drop in July?"

"What was I doing that week in July?"

"Did I have my watch on? "

"Was it working"

Third, start trying to answer your questions with memories, research (googling), tests, or experiments.

I remembered I was in Washington state with my sister that week. I walked on the beach everyday, so I knew my watch was working.