5 minute Earth Science Observations and Inferences

If you were asked to make observations of the item in the picture, what would you do? Take a moment and make some observations. Observation

How can you make observations? By using the five senses. What is an observation? Collecting data of either an object or the environment. SIGHT Hearing Touch Smell Taste

1.It is green and rusty red 2.It is iridescent/shiny 3.There are appendages 4.Some of the appendages have spines 5. There are three distinct sections If you could touch it you may add: 6. The green area is smooth 7. The rusty red area is rough Lets make some observations

Observation Using your five senses to collect data of an object and/or your environment.

Inferences An inference is an statement or an educated guess based on your observations and prior knowledge. Calling this an insect or a Japanese Beetle Would be an inference.

Inferences can be conclusions or predictions. Observations: The dog is showing its teeth and the ears are pointed back The dog’s muscles are rigid and tense The hair along the dog’s back is standing up The dog is leaning forward Inferences: The dog is going to bite (prediction). Observations: The valley has an U-shape The walls of the valley are steep The sediment along the bottom is unsorted and made of various sizes Inferences: The valley was created by a glacier (conclusion).

How did we get to the point to call this an insect? Through our observations, prior knowledge and by making several inferences; we may conclude that: There are three body parts: Head, thorax, and abdomen. There are legs (6). There are antenna and eyes. It has an exoskeleton. And wings/it flies.

Observations are descriptions of what we can see, touch (feel), hear, smell, and/or taste. Examples are color, roughness, sweet or sour, fragrance, loudness, etc. Inferences are using the observations to make a statement about an object or the environment.

We can improve on our observations By using tools (instruments) Take a moment and try to come up with some tools that improve Hearing Touch(feel) Sight Smell Taste Microscope Telescope Ruler Probe Balance or Scale Stethoscope