Transcript Observation & Inference modified by Liz LaRosa 2009, from original posted at: www.middleschoolscience.com

Observation & Inference
modified by Liz LaRosa www.middleschoolscience.com 2009, from original posted at:
www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Inference_8th.ppt
Observations
• Any information collected with the senses.
– 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
– The skill of describing scientific events
Inferences
• Observations + Background Knowledge = Inferences
• The process of drawing a conclusion from observations
and given evidence.
Practice:
• Observations:
• I hear people screaming
• I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers
• I see a lot of people
• Inference = ?
PRACTICE
• Example: You are asleep in bed, when
early one morning, you are awakened by a
tremendous crash outside, followed by a
flash of light. What are your observations?
• Use your senses - You heard a loud noise.
You saw a flash of light.
• Now, what is your inference?
PRACTICE
• Most people would assume a
thunderstorm. Maybe they’d assume it
was raining outside. Both of these are
inferences, because you did not see them
directly- you are guessing. You are making
logical guesses, but guesses nonetheless.
It can storm without rain, so it raining out
doesn’t necessarily make sense.
PRACTICE
• Now, what if I told you it wasn’t a storm?
Go ahead; look out your bedroom window.
What you see is a car that is crumpled
next to an electrical pole. You see sparks
falling from the power transformer at the
top of the pole. What is your inference?
Inferences can change with new
observations or facts.
PRACTICE
Example 1:
Observation: The grass in front of the school
is wet.
Inferences:
PRACTICE
Example 2:
Observation: A student is sitting outside Mr.
Cuddemi’s office.
Inferences:
PRACTICE
Example 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
Activity Page
www.middleschoolscience.com/footprints-isn.pdf
In your science notebook, write your conclusion.
Source of graphic:
http://bob.nap.edu/html/evolution98/evol6-e.html