observations & inferences

Observations & InferencesScience Process Skills

Find the 6 differences between the two pictures.

Find the 6 differences between the two pictures.

Answers: Tail feathers, snake’s tail, branch, ape’s finger, croc’s nostril, sun

ObservationsUsing your 5 senses - what you see, hear, feel, smell & taste* - to describe something and collect detailed information

The basis of the inquiry processIt begins an investigation & continues

throughout it.Gather your evidence* with permission only

Take a good look at this picture

QuestionsAre there cars parked on the sides of the road?

What color is the pickup truck driving in the road?

Any minivans around?

What does the blue sign say?

What's the speed limit?

Are there any pedestrians on the road?

AnswersAre there cars parked on the sides of

the road? YesWhat color is the pickup truck driving in

the road? BlueAny minivans around? YesWhat does the blue sign say? Yard SaleWhat's the speed limit? 35 mphAre there any pedestrians on the road? No

Which observations would be good in science class?It felt funny.The plant was brown and wrinkled and laying

flat in the dirt.The rock is smooth, flat, & cool to touch.It smells gross.It’s cool.White with rough ridges.The leaf is very small.The leaf is oval shaped and @ 2 inches long.

How many legs does the elephant have?

The square has straight sides

Duck or bunny?

There are no grey dots in this picture

They are all the same height

The circles are not moving

The shapes are not moving

2 Types of ObservationsQualitative: describe what we observe. Qualitative = quality (descriptive) No numbers

Ex’s: 1. The flower is blue. 2. The flower smells sweet

QuaNtitative: Numbers; measure what we observe. QuaNtitative = quantity (numerical)

Ex’s: 1. There are three petals on the flower. 2. The flower is 6 cm in height.

Let’s Practice!

QuaLitative

QuaNtitative

QuaNtitative or QuaLitativeThe cup had a mass of 454 gramsQUANThe temperature outside is 250 CQUANIt is warm outsideQUALThe tree is 30 feet tall.QUANThe building has 25 storiesQUAN

QuaNtitative or QuaLitativeThe building is taller than the tree.QUANThe sidewalk is long.QUALThe sidewalk is 100 meters long.QUANThe race was over quickly.QUALThe race was over in 10 minutes.QUAN

An inconsiderate slob dumped trash on Rachel Rabbit's lawn. One of these two suspects is guilty. Slylock Fox foundevidence that may identify the loathsome litterbug.

What did Slylock observe to help him identify the trash tosser?

Slylock found bones in the trash.

The bull is an herbivore and only eats plants.

The raccoon is an omnivore and eats both plants and animals.

The raccoon is the trash tosser.

InferencesAn logical explanation or interpretation

about things we observeBased upon prior knowledge and

experience

Make an 3 inferences from the picture of the computer and the keyboard.

In the Science Lab:In experiments, record observations NOT

inferences

Inferences may be used when writing the conclusion in your lab report.

Practice Making InferencesObservation: You observe a dejected-

looking student leaving the principals office.

Inference: That student was in trouble.Observation: You see several people

leaving a movie-theater red-eyed and blowing their noses.

Inference: They just saw a sad movie.

More InferencesObservation: You observe the sky at noon is

darkening.Inference: A storm is coming.Observation: The principal interrupts the class

and calls a student from the room.Inference: The principal has something

important to discuss with that student.Observation: All middle school students are

bringing their lunch from home.Inference: The food in the cafeteria is poor.

Even More Inferences:Observation: A former rock-and-roll band member

has poor hearing.Inference: Loud music can damage hearing.Observation: You leave a movie theater and see the

street is wet.Inference: It rained while you were in the movie

theaterObservation: A siren is heard going past the school.Inference: An emergency vehicle just went by.

Someone nearby is hurt or in trouble.

Tracks like these are common in parts of New England and in the

southwestern United States.

What do you OBSERVE?

What can you INFER?

Now what do you think?

Infer what happened based on your observations.

Making Inferences

What inferences can you make from the following pictures?

PredictionA statement of what may happen in the future based on observations, data, experience or scientific reason

Observations = what you know

Inferences = what you conclude

Predictions = what you think will happen in the future

Observations & Inferences

In Notebook1 observation1 inference1 prediction

Using Observations to Make Predictions Lab

In Pairs:1 bag of gum

drops1 paper plate1 plastic knife

Read and follow all direction

Take turns - 1 person cuts a gum drops in half – the other person chooses which half they want first.

Answer conclusion questions in complete sentences on notebook paper. Staple to lab sheet and turn in.

HW if not done.

Practice ObservingWill take a card to find your table. Remember your card.The person with the spades will bring me the

cardsStand around table, do not uncover the tray.When I say go, the person who drew the club card

will uncover the tray.You will have 2 minutes to look at the tray – SILENTLYWhen I say stop, the person with the hearts card

will cover the tray.You will have 4 minutes to list as many items as you

remember – SILENTLY

Let’s see how you did

For Fun!Get into groups of 2 (or 3)Face each other for one minuteTurn away from each otherThe person with the longest first name goes first.One person changes one thing on them.The other people in the group have to decide what was

changed.How well did you do?