What is science? In school it seems like we just memorize stuff. Is that really what you do?

Thank you for asking this question. Science is more of an approach or way of life then memorization. Science involves doing experiments in a way that allows you to control what you are doing. Science starts with a question. After studying a topic, a process that often involves some memorization, scientists then come up with a testable idea that would shed some light on answering that question. This idea, or hypothesis, is a prediction based on previous study and must be testable. Scientists look at the range of predictions that a given hypothesis will make and test them through experiment. The results of these tests are then analyzed to determine how and if the hypothesis needs to be revised. Through this process, scientists can come to conclusions and better understand the world. Although science in school can sometimes seem like useless memorization, it can be quite handy. Plus, scientists probably spend more time being active and testing or learning concepts rather than memorizing. While some memorization is necessary, it is not the bulk of what we do. Every time you are out in the world exploring and testing things in a way that allows you to draw conclusions, you are doing science. It is often said that kids are the best scientists.

This video is pretty funny while also illustrating important concepts.