Observations & Inferences Notes

Observation: any use of the senses to gather information What is an observation? Observation: any use of the senses to gather information

Make observations by….. Looking Smelling Touching Tasting (with permission) Hearing Can you think of any more?

Scientists make observations and then they begin to ask questions. You can do it anytime, anywhere.

What is an inference? If you went outside and the sky was dark, you hear thunder what do you think of? Or what do you infer?

What if you came into class and saw a clear, odorless liquid sitting in a glass cup on your tables? What would you infer?

Inference- the process of arriving at a conclusion

So let’s make some visual observations and inferences!

Qualitative & Quantitative Observations There are different kinds of observations

Look closely at the words….. Qualitative Does this word sound like anything you have heard before?

Look closely at the words… Qualitative Sounds like Quality

Qualitative Observations Qualitative Observations are descriptions using the five senses

Examples The candle smells like vanilla. That music is so annoying. My dog has long hair. The road gets slippery after it rains.

Qualitative Observations IT LOOKS IT SMELLS IT FEELS IT SOUNDS IT TASTES Bubbly Sweet Rough Loud Clear Wet Padded Squeaky Moldy Like a cave Burnt Silky Silent Salty

Look at the words closely…. Quantitative Does this word sound like anything you have heard before?

Look at the words closely…. Quantitative Sounds like Quantity (meaning how much)

Quantitative Observations Quantitative Observations are descriptions using numbers, measurements, and units.

Examples I ran 2 miles last night. The movie was over 3 hours long. Katie lost her first tooth. The tree was 4 meters tall.

Quantitative Observations Measuring Tool Unit Used in Measuring Examples Clock or stopwatch Second, minute, hour 5.4 seconds, 2 minutes Calendar Day, week, month, year 2 days, 1 week,

Now go make some qualitative and quantitative observations