Observation Inference SEPTEMBER 4 2015 SCIENCE 8 A

Observation & Inference SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 SCIENCE 8 A modified by Liz La. Rosa www. middleschoolscience. com 2009, from original posted at: www. science-class. net/Power. Points/Observation_Inference_8 th. ppt

What is an observation? • Any information collected with the senses. • Your five senses are smell, taste, sight, touch, and sound. • The skill of describing scientific events. • An observation is a statement describing a fact.

Observations • Quantitative – measureable or countable » » 3 meters long 4 marbles 50 kilograms 35 degrees Celsius • Qualitative – describable, not measureable » red flowers » smells like fresh baked cookies » Tastes bitter

Qualitative vs. Quantitative • Quantitative (measurable) – The 500 kg lion has 6 cm long claws at the end of each of its 18 toes. • Qualitative (not measureable) – The cute, fuzzy, tan colored lion has sharp teeth and a long tail.

Qualitative or Quantitative • The candy was sour • The bug was 5 cm long • The flower is red • The mass of the beaker was 122 g • My fingernail is 2 cm long • • • The slug was slimy That laptop is white She is 150 cm tall His hair is black You have three sisters

Observation In your notebook, record 5 observations about our classroom. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Inference • A statement based on your interpretation of the facts. • Cannot be directly observed. • The process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence. Practice: • Observations: • I hear people screaming • I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers • I see a lot of people • Inference = ?

Inference You get up in the morning, look up at the sky and: 1. observe dark clouds, 2. observe the air is cool and humid, and 3. observe puddles on the ground. . you might infer that it has recently rained. Note: you did not see rain; you decided that it rained based on your observations.

Inference • Observation: The grass on the school’s front lawn is wet. • Possible inferences: – It rained. – The sprinkler was on. – There is dew on the grass from the morning. – A dog peed on the grass!

List 3 inferences about the classroom 1. 2. 3.

Complete the Handout

Look at these two sets of animal tracks. List 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

Now what do you think? Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

Now what do you think? Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

Conclusion • In your journal, write 2 -3 sentences about what you learned from Mystery Footprints

Source of graphic: http: //bob. nap. edu/html/evolution 98/evol 6 -e. html