Big Picture:
Scientist use scientific drawings (accurate and realistic) along with scientific models (2-D or 3-D -shows how or why something occurs) to explain and show what something is, what they observed, or how something works.
Scientific Drawings
Scientific Models
Small Picture:
In Younger Kids we have been working all year on our scientific drawings (accurate pictures, that are the right colors, and have lots of details).
Scientific drawing of plants from our Nile Soil Experiment (in our school-wide Egypt unit)
Notice how this scientist is using realistic colors for their scientific drawing.
This week we started work on scientific models, which show how something happens, or movement.
Scientific model from our Puddles Investigation
Notice the arrows showing the puddle “getting bigger” and the rain coming down.
First we did some research on how scientists and cartoonists draw movement and make invisible things visible!
Then we created or initial scientific models:
Where do puddles come from?
Notice here that these scientists (above and below) are using accurate and realistic colors – that is important in making scientific models (and drawings).

A scientist working hard at making their initial scientific model.

Notice the arrows in this scientific model showing how rain comes down to form a puddle.

Notice how this scientist added accurate colors and extra details in the rain and shape of the puddles and clouds.

Notice how this scientist showed movement with arrows – arrows are a key part of many scientific models.

Notice how this scientist used realistic colors and shapes and added details to their scientific model.

This scientist explains that water goes back into the air to make clouds, and clouds make rain.

Notice how this scientist uses arrow to show how their puddle gets bigger.
Where do puddles go?

Notice how this scientist added labels to their scientific model to identify parts of the model. They are also using arrows to show an initial understanding of the water cycle.

Notice how this scientist uses labels and arrows to show the role of sunshine in their initial understanding of evaporation.

Notice how this scientist used realistic colors and shapes to add detail to their scientific model. This scientist also used arrows to show the movement of puddles. Notice the importance of the sun in their ideas of where puddles go.