Unit 1 Scientific Method: Day 5 - Observations and Inferences

What?

An observation is information gathered using our five senses and scientific tools. An inference gives _meaning to observations.

Imagine… “the new KIPPster who could not infer.”

His first day of school…

How:

• Make as many ­quantitative and qualitative observations as possible.
• Ask yourself: What do these add up to mean?

How can we tell if something is an observation or inference?

   1)   An observation only needs the five senses, but an inference might need prior knowledge.

\   What is the difference between these statements?


      The liquid is yellow.                                                                           The liquid must be urine.

      The substance looks like marshmallows.                                      These things are marshmallows.

      The ball rolled slowly.                                                        The ball rolled slowly because of friction.

         How can we tell if something is an observation or inference?

       

       1)    An observation only needs the five senses, but an inference might need prior knowledge

       

       2)   An observation is directly made while an inference is drawing a conclusion from the observation.

       

       3)    An observation is usually accurate while the inference may or may not be accurate.

Circle when I first made an inference:

·         The liquid is yellow.

·         The liquid looks like sewer water.

·         There are small objects moving around in the liquid.

·         The objects look like bugs.

·         There must be bugs in the liquid.

·         The stuff in the liquid is alive.

    Let’s Try Together as Class…

    Observations:

    Inference: This means…

    Now, You Try On Your Own ….

   Observations:

1)     

2)     

3)     

    Inference:

Need Extra Practice?

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  Congratulations on reaching your first checkpoint. Tomorrow you will take Unit 1 Quiz 1 – Testability and Observations .

Observations and Inferences LW

   

   Tomorrow, we will share how we thought or acted like scientists. Pick ONE of the topics and write 5 sentences about it.

   

   1)    Questions you asked yourself this past weekend, and any testable questions you may have thought of (or converted)

   

   2)    Qualitative observations you made this past weekend (property or comparisons), and inferences

   

   3)    Quantitative observations you made this past weekend, and inferences

   This past weekend, ______________________________________________________.

   

   CHECK! Did you write five GOOD sentences?

(  Here’s an example of some “not good sentences.” This weekend. I went to the park. To play with my dog named Fluffy.)