1. Science Process Skills
You’ve Got Skills
Science Process Skills

2. What are process skills?
Just like a baseball player, a scientist must have certain skills to do her job.
These skills include:
Making observations
Making inferences
Measuring
Conducting controlled experiments

3. Making Observations
An observation is the gathering of information using our 5 senses:
Sight
Smell
Hearing
Taste
Touch
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4. Two Types of Observations
Qualitative observations describe what we observe.
Example: The flower has white petals.
Example: Mr. D has green eyes.

5. Two Types of Observations
Quantitative observations measure what we observe.
Example: The flower has seven petals.
Example: Mr. D has two eyes.

6. Which is better?
Both types of observations are valuable in science and can be used. It just depends on what you are observing.
If you are describing the smell of a flower, it would be difficult to measure that in any way.

7. Making Inferences
Inferences are an explanation of an observation you made.
They are based on your past experiences and prior knowledge.

8. Making Inferences Example
Observation: The grass on the school’s lawn is wet.
Possible inferences:
It rained.
The sprinkler was on.
There is dew on the grass.
A dog urinated on the grass.

9. Try These Observation: The school’s fire alarm is going off.
Possible inferences?
Observation: A student is called to the office.