Year 8 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 19
Foundation Worksheet
Learning Goals
Order the steps
Building a model follows four steps. Number them from 1 (first) to 4 (last).
| Order (1-4) | Step |
|---|---|
| Build the model as a labelled diagram, an object or an equation. | |
| Test the model on a new case, predicting before you check. | |
| Describe exactly what you observe, with numbers where you can. | |
| Propose a hidden mechanism that would force the observation to happen. |
Match the word to its meaning
Write the letter of the correct meaning next to each term.
| Letter | Term | Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| Observable phenomenon |
A. A simplified account of the hidden mechanism behind an observation. B. Other scientists checking the evidence and reasoning. C. Something happening that you can see or measure directly. D. A well-tested explanation covering many different observations. E. A new situation, not used to build the model, where it must predict. | |
| Explanatory model | ||
| Test case | ||
| Scientific theory | ||
| Peer review |
Describe or explain?
Tick one box for each statement about the flooded corner of the oval.
| Statement | Describes | Explains |
|---|---|---|
| The water reached 6 cm deep and lasted nine hours. | ||
| A clay layer under that corner stops water soaking away, so it pools. | ||
| The corner floods every time it rains heavily. | ||
| Loose sand lets water drain, so the middle of the oval dries quickly. |
1. In one sentence, explain what an explanatory model does that a description does not.
2. Name the two scientists who showed that a bacterium causes stomach ulcers, and the city they worked in.
3. State the four steps of building a model, in order.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, why is testing a model on a new case more useful than checking it against the case it was built from?