Scientific Observations and Inferences Observations Any information collected

Scientific Observations and Inferences

Observations • Any information collected with the senses. E IV T A T TI N A U Q Measureable or Countable • 3 meters long • 4 marbles • 50 kilograms • 35 degrees Celsius Describable, Not Measureable • red flowers • smells like fresh baked cookies • Tastes bitter QUALITAT IVE • The skill of describing scientific events

Inference • Conclusions or deductions based on observations. • The process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence.

Learning Goal Students will be able to make correct scientific observations and scientific inferences.

Let’s Practice Close your eyes… • Observations: • I hear people screaming • I taste cotton candy • I smell popcorn, and hamburgers • I see a lot of people • I feel grass under my feet • Inference = ?

Fill in the blanks with one of the following words: OBSERVATIONS INFERENCE One of the most important skills in science is the use of our five senses, to make __________. Most of the time we think of observing as something we do with our eyes; when we see something, we observe it. However, all five of our senses can be used to make observations: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. A good scientist is observant and notices things in the world. He or she notices what’s going on in the world and becomes curious about what’s happening. After we make observations, our brain makes logical conclusions about our observations called __________.

Mystery Footprints

GLUE PAGE INTO SCIENCE NOTEBOOK

MYSTERY FOOTPRINTS ACTIVITY Observation 1 Observation 2 Observation 3 Inference SLIDE 1 SLIDE 2 SLIDE 3

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

Lesson Sources • Mystery Footprints Power. Point Lesson modified by Nancy Magnuson 2011 from original post by: Liz La. Rosa www. middleschoolscience. com • Activity Worksheets Adapted from: http: //mysciencelessons. wordpress. com/tag/observation/ Sources of Graphics • Detective: http: //questgarden. com/64/62/3/080417194222/task. htm • Jelly Beans: http: //www. diamonddusted. com/? p=2069 • Footprints: http: //www. clker. com/clipart-1739. html