In every setting, whether in a well stocked science room or in a regular classroom, teachers can work with their students and encourage the development of these most important tools. Scientific thinking processes are built, one upon another, for most students, while for some, the development of processes is non-linear. Each process is important in the development of a scientist. Observing is the basic scientific tool. Through this process, information about the environment is obtained.
Children develop expectations about their environment through organizing patterns.
As the process of observation is refined, more data may be secured. Perspective of the observer is important and may influence that which is observed. Communicating the observation to another is important. The student scientist needs to share. Scientists communicate to validate their studies and to gain insights from others.