What is science and curiosity
Why is the sky blue, how does a seed know to grow, what makes a kite fly? Asking these is how science begins.
Science is finding out how and why things happen, by careful observation and testing, rather than by guessing. It begins with curiosity, the wish to know. Good questions begin with why, how and what if.
In the figure: Curiosity makes us ask why, how and what if.
Rule 1: Questions that lead to science — Questions you can test are best.
- Easy: "Why does ice melt faster in the sun?" can be tested.
- Medium: Observation means using the senses carefully.
- Exam-type: Writing questions down keeps curiosity alive.
Rule 2: Science versus guessing — Evidence beats opinion.
- Easy: Scientists check ideas by testing them.
- Medium: A wrong guess is still useful: we learn from it.
- Exam-type: Old beliefs can change when new evidence comes.
Turn "I wonder why" into a question you can test.
Thinking science is only for scientists in labs.
"Curious, observe, test."
Practice questions
- 1Which planet does the textbook call the only one known to support life?
- 2Science is best described as —
- 3The textbook is named 'Curiosity' because the most important quality for learning science is —
- 4What is the very first step of the scientific method?
- 5Who can be said to be working like a scientist?
- 6Which question can science help us answer?
- 7Asia keeps asking 'how' and 'why' about the things she sees around her. She is showing —
- 8After we wonder and ask a question, the next step is to —
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Earth
- 2a way of thinking, observing and doing things to understand the world
- 3being curious
- 4Observing something interesting or puzzling
- 5Anyone who follows the scientific method
- 6Why does a flower open at a certain time of day?
- 7curiosity
- 8guess a possible answer
Steps of the scientific method
A gardener sees that one plant is yellow, asks why, guesses it lacks light, moves it, and watches the result.
Scientists follow steps: observe, ask a question, make a hypothesis (a testable guess), do an experiment, record the observations, and draw a conclusion, then share it. The steps may be repeated if the result is surprising.
In the figure: Observe, ask, guess, test, record, conclude: then ask again.
Rule 1: The steps in order — Do not skip the recording step.
- Easy: Hypothesis: "plants need light to stay green".
- Medium: Experiment: keep one plant in light and one in the dark.
- Exam-type: Conclusion must match what you observed.
Rule 2: Recording and concluding — Write what you see, not what you expected.
- Easy: Use a table with date and observation.
- Medium: Repeat the test to be sure.
- Exam-type: If the guess is wrong, form a new one.
Write the hypothesis as: "If we do this, then that will happen".
Changing the result so that it fits your guess.
"Observe, ask, guess, test, record, conclude."
Practice questions
- 1Which topic of the book relates to the Sun, the Moon and the stars?
- 2A pen stops writing. Wondering 'why did it stop?' is the beginning of —
- 3Which step in finding an answer comes right after observing something interesting?
- 4Which step comes last in the list of steps of the scientific method?
- 5A shopkeeper notices that bread turns hard faster on some days. Asking why is —
- 6The book wants us to ask how hot or cold things are. Why is this important?
- 7Which situation shows the spirit of science?
- 8An electrician checks whether a bulb is faulty or the switch is faulty. He is mainly —
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Things beyond the Earth
- 2a scientific way of thinking
- 3Wondering and asking a question about it
- 4Analysing the results to see if the question is answered
- 5observing and wondering like a scientist
- 6To check, for example, a fever or the heat of water
- 7Looking for the reason why milk boiled over
- 8finding the cause of a problem by testing
Thinking like a scientist in daily life
To find which detergent cleans best, a careful student washes the same stain with each one, same water, same time.
In a fair test we change only one thing and keep everything else the same, so we know what caused the result. The thing we change is the variable. Scientists also measure with proper units, repeat tests and stay honest about the results.
In the figure: Same cloth and wetness; only sun or shade is changed.
Rule 1: Fair test — One change at a time.
- Easy: To test sunlight, keep the same cloth and amount of water.
- Medium: Change only the place: sun or shade.
- Exam-type: Compare after the same time.
Rule 2: Habits of a scientist — Careful, honest and open-minded.
- Easy: Measure instead of saying "more" or "less".
- Medium: Repeat a test to make sure of the result.
- Exam-type: Be ready to change your mind.
List what you will keep the same before you begin a test.
Changing two things at once and then claiming one of them caused the result.
"Change one thing, keep the rest."
Practice questions
- 1How does the book describe the ideas we will learn in different chapters?
- 2Where did the book say the most groundbreaking discoveries have often come from?
- 3Where can we find science?
- 4Which of these shows science at work in a kitchen?
- 5A possible answer that we think of before testing is called a —
- 6Scientists are people who —
- 7A seed grows into a plant. This links with which idea in the introduction?
- 8The textbook compares science to a giant jigsaw puzzle because —
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1They are all connected
- 2Unexpected places
- 3Everywhere — from the kitchen to outer space
- 4Wondering why milk boils over when heated for long
- 5guess
- 6follow the scientific method to solve problems or discover new things
- 7The amazing variety and growth of life on Earth
- 8each new discovery adds a piece and there is always more to find
Science is everywhere and connected
Cooking rice involves heat (physics), a change in the grain (chemistry) and a food made from a plant (biology).
Science is in the kitchen, the farm, the sky and our body. Its main branches are physics (matter and energy), chemistry (substances), biology (living things), earth science and astronomy (space). The branches are linked, and many problems need more than one.
In the figure: Branches of science are linked and share one way of thinking.
Rule 1: Branches — Match the question to the branch.
- Easy: How does a swing move? Physics.
- Medium: Why does iron rust? Chemistry.
- Exam-type: How does a seed grow? Biology.
Rule 2: Science in daily life — Look around and name the science.
- Easy: A mobile phone uses physics and chemistry.
- Medium: Medicine combines biology and chemistry.
- Exam-type: Weather forecasts use earth science and physics.
Pick any object and name the sciences used to make it.
Thinking that each branch of science is separate.
"Physics, chemistry, biology, earth, space: all linked."
Practice questions
- 1'Why did my pen stop writing?' belongs to which step?
- 2Which step lies between asking a question and testing?
- 3The word 'curiosity' means —
- 4Which habit is the best first step in learning science?
- 5What do a cook, a cycle repairer and an electrician have in common in the textbook's examples?
- 6Water freezes into ice and boils into steam. This is mentioned to show —
- 7Pooja says science is only for grown-up scientists. What is a better view?
- 8A new scientific answer often leads to —
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Asking a question
- 2Making a guess
- 3a strong wish to know or learn something
- 4Observing surroundings keenly and asking questions
- 5They all ask questions and look for causes
- 6how water changes with cooling and heating
- 7Anyone who observes, asks questions and looks for answers can think scientifically
- 8more questions to explore
Teamwork and the joy of exploring
A class that plants and observes a garden together learns more than one student working alone.
Most discoveries come from teamwork: scientists share ideas, check one another's work and give credit to others. Mistakes are part of exploring and teach us something. Exploring is a joy, but always follow safety rules and ask an adult before using heat, sharp tools or chemicals.
In the figure: Ask, try, share and learn, with safety first.
Rule 1: Working together — Share jobs and ideas.
- Easy: Each member has a role: record, measure, report.
- Medium: Listen to others even if you disagree.
- Exam-type: Give credit to the person whose idea it was.
Rule 2: Safe exploring — Safety rules protect you and others.
- Easy: Never taste or smell unknown chemicals.
- Medium: Tie back long hair; keep the table clean.
- Exam-type: Tell an adult at once about any accident.
Before an activity, read the steps and the safety notes.
Hiding a mistake instead of learning from it.
"Team, credit, safety, joy."
Practice questions
- 1After two wrong guesses about the pen, what is the best next move?
- 2Which topic would a question about 'a leaf of grass or a vast forest' fit best?
- 3Which statement about science is correct?
- 4A child wonders how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. This shows —
- 5The scientific method is a —
- 6Everyone applies the scientific method to some extent because we all —
- 7Which of the following is a question about materials?
- 8Which pair gives places where science can be found?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Make a new guess and test it
- 2Living world
- 3It is a way of finding answers by thinking, observing and testing
- 4curiosity about nature
- 5step-by-step process
- 6ask questions and try to find answers in daily life
- 7Are a plastic ruler and a metal key made of different materials?
- 8The deep ocean and outer space