Science and Math Skills

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Did you know scientists use math all the time?

In this lesson, you will explore different ways scientists use math to conduct experiments.

Think about a time you followed a recipe. Scientists follow experiment instructions just like chefs follow recipes! In many experiments, scientists have to measure ingredients. Scientists use tools like measuring cups, measuring spoons, scales, graduated cylinders, and beakers to measure ingredients. If you'd like more information about the tools scientists use, check out the Elephango lesson found under Additional Resources in the right-hand sidebar!

Below, you can see the girl filling a test tube, and you can also see a lot of different beakers filled with different colors. Many of these measuring tools have measurements written on them. For example, a measuring cup may have the measurements for a half cup and whole cup listed down the side of the measuring cup. Scientists use these numbers to measure the correct amount of a particular ingredient for an experiment.

Scientists use math to collect data (information). Scientists who work in the field use numbers to keep track of information they learn while studying the world around them. For example, scientists use numbers to record information: a scientist may keep count of how many days it rains or how many fish a dolphin eats in a day. These numbers can be used to create graphs and charts that tell about a study.

In the Got It? section, you will practice using math to complete a scientific study. Before moving on, tell your parent or teacher one example of a tool a scientist can use to measure ingredients for an experiment.