Observations Using your 5 senses - what you see, hear, feel,
smell & taste* - to describe something and collect detailed
information The basis of the inquiry process It begins an
investigation & continues throughout it. Gather your evidence *
with permission only
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Take a good look at this picture
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Questions Are 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?
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Answers Are there cars parked on the sides of the road? Yes
What color is the pickup truck driving in the road? Blue Any
minivans around? Yes What does the blue sign say? Yard Sale What's
the speed limit? 35 mph Are there any pedestrians on the road?
No
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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. Its cool. White with rough ridges. The leaf is very small.
The leaf is oval shaped and @ 2 inches long.
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How many legs does the elephant have?
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The square has straight sides
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Duck or bunny?
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There are no grey dots in this picture
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They are all the same height
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The circles are not moving
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The shapes are not moving
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2 Types of Observations Qualitative: describe what we observe.
Qualitative = quality (descriptive) No numbers Exs: 1. The flower
is blue. 2. The flower smells sweet QuaNtitative: Numbers; measure
what we observe. QuaNtitative = quantity (numerical) Exs:1. There
are three petals on the flower. 2. The flower is 6 cm in
height.
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Lets Practice! QuaLitative QuaNtitative
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QuaNtitative or QuaLitative The cup had a mass of 454 grams
QUAN The temperature outside is 250 C QUAN It is warm outside QUAL
The tree is 30 feet tall. QUAN The building has 25 stories
QUAN
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QuaNtitative or QuaLitative The building is taller than the
tree. QUAN The sidewalk is long. QUAL The sidewalk is 100 meters
long. QUAN The race was over quickly. QUAL The race was over in 10
minutes. QUAN
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An inconsiderate slob dumped trash on Rachel Rabbit's lawn. One
of these two suspects is guilty. Slylock Fox found evidence that
may identify the loathsome litterbug. What did Slylock observe to
help him identify the trash tosser?
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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.
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Inferences An logical explanation or interpretation about
things we observe Based upon prior knowledge and experience Make an
3 inferences from the picture of the computer and the
keyboard.
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In the Science Lab: In experiments, record observations NOT
inferences Inferences may be used when writing the conclusion in
your lab report.
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Practice Making Inferences Observation: 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.
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More Inferences Observation: 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.
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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 theater
Observation: A siren is heard going past the school. Inference: An
emergency vehicle just went by. Someone nearby is hurt or in
trouble.
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Tracks like these are common in parts of New England and in the
southwestern United States. What do you OBSERVE? What can you
INFER?
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Now what do you think?
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Infer what happened based on your observations.
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What inferences can you make from the following pictures?
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Prediction A statement of what may happen in the future based
on observations, data, experience or scientific reason
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Observations = what you know Inferences = what you conclude
Predictions = what you think will happen in the future
Using Observations to Make Predictions Lab In Pairs: 1 bag of
gum drops 1 paper plate 1 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.
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Practice Observing Will take a card to find your table.
Remember your card. The person with the spades will bring me the
cards Stand 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 SILENTLY When 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
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Lets see how you did
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For Fun! Get into groups of 2 (or 3) Face each other for one
minute Turn away from each other The 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?