Every day we use our senses to collect information (observations) about our world. Things that happen around us are more enjoyable if we are able to understand what is happening. Sometimes, we may observe something that reminds us of an experience we’ve had before or has patterns that are similar to a previous experience. We make inferences when our brain puts pieces together that help explain our observations. The better we are at making observations and communicating them, the more valid our inferences will be. The ability to infer helps us understand the world around us. Circle the word “date” at the top of your notes to show you’ve read this paragraph. The only rule of inferring is that an inference has to be logical (make sense). Inferences are always subject to change and are not a final explanation. Sometimes there are several valid or logical explanations for a given observation and you cannot be sure which best explains it. In such cases, one must make more observations or communicate with others to get a clearer picture of what’s going on. Inferences often change when knowledge is shared and more observations are made. Read the observations on the next page and write a logical inference for each.

Observation 1: You walk into the kitchen, and you see someone in your family with watery eyes that appear to have been crying. Observation 2: Upon further observations, you see onion peels in the sink and discover that your mom is chopping onions over by the stove and placing them in the frying pan. Initially you may have inferred that someone was upset and was crying. After making more observations, you may have rejected that explanation and realized that the smell of the onions caused your mother’s eye to water. Scientists use this same procedure. They make inferences from their initial observations and they sometimes have to reject the inferences after they have made more observations or shared results with other scientists. Draw a star in the bottom right corner of your notes to show you’ve read this paragraph.

1st person to finish at your table  PICK UP YOUR GROUP’S FOLDERS! Please QUIETLY READ the half sheet in the baskets. FILL IN INFERENCES in the “Intro Reading” box of your Notes. 1st person to finish at your table  PICK UP YOUR GROUP’S FOLDERS!

Expectations for Lectures & Note-taking I will tell you what to write. Ask your elbow partner if you have questions, then ask me. I have answer keys if you get behind or make a mistake (raise your hand to request one). When you are done writing, put your pencil down and sit quietly. We should be able to move from slide to slide quickly with little talking.

Observations vs. Inferences I CAN make observations and inferences and explain the difference between them.

Observations Any information collected with the senses.

Observations Any information collected with the senses. Qualitative – describable, not measureable The flowers are red It smells like freshly baked cookies The coffee tastes bitter Quantitative – measureable or countable The desk is 2 meters long There are 4 marbles in the jar The pencil weighs 50 grams It is 35 degrees Celsius outside

Inferences Conclusions or predictions based on observations. Practice: Observations: I hear people screaming. I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers. I see a lot of people. Inference = You are at an amusement park.

Let’s test your observation skills… You have 30 seconds to memorize as much as you can about the picture on the next slide.

Question 1 Are there cars parked on the side of the road?

Question 2 What color is the pickup truck driving in the road?

Question 3 What type of vehicle is driving in the other lane?

Question 4 What's the speed limit?

In science, observations are important to collect information. Much of what we know about the world around us is because of observations that we have made.

Observation vs Inference Observations are ALWAYS TRUE Everyone should agree on an observation Factual; doesn’t require any thinking about it Inferences may be RIGHT or WRONG Might be a guess or an opinion The same observations can produce different inferences

Observation vs Inference On the next slide, discuss with your elbow partner whether the statement is an OBSERVATION or an INFERENCE.

OBSERVATION or INFERENCE? – discuss with your elbow partner 1. There is a representation of a face on one side of the coin. 2. The Latin word "Dei" means "God.“ 3. The coin was made in 1722. 4. The date 1722 is printed on one side of the coin.

Now you try… Look at these two sets of animal tracks. List 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

Now what do you think? Write an observation. Make an inference.

What do you think now? Write an observation. Make an inference.

With new observations, an inference may change.

Important! While conducting labs, make observations NOT inferences. Inferences may be used when doing the conclusions section of a lab.