1. modified by Liz LaRosa www.middleschoolscience.com 2009, from original posted at: www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Inference_8th.pptwww.middleschoolscience.com www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Inference_8th.ppt Observation & Inference

2. What is an observation? Discuss with your face partner…. Ask yourself: Can you describe it by seeing it? Hearing it? Feeling it? Tasting it? Smelling it? Measuring it?

3. What does it mean to “infer”? Discuss with your shoulder partner…. Are you making a “judgement” about something? Are you describing an opinion or a feellng?

4. Observations Any information collected using your senses. Also measurements Quantitative – measureable or countableQuantitative – measureable or countable »3 meters long »4 marbles »50 kilograms »35 degrees Celsius Qualitative – describable, not measureableQualitative – describable, not measureable »red flowers »smells like fresh baked cookies »Tastes bitter The skill of describing scientific events

5. Inference Conclusions, decisions or deductions you make based on observations. The process of drawing a conclusion from given evidence. Observations: I hear people screaming I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers I see a lot of people Inference = ? Science Notebook Example: (Write this down…) I see an apple with a bite missing. I see the apple on the ground. A child standing next to the apple is making a face. Possible Inference?__________________________________

6. The more observations you make, the more accurate your inferences will be!!

7. Conclusion A decision you make based on your data—your observations and your inferences

8. Observation or Inference? Sort the cards. Decide if each is describing and observation or an inference about a situation

9. Look at these two sets of animal tracks. List 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

10. Now what do you think? Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

11. Now what do you think? Make 3 OBSERVATIONS Make an INFERENCE

12. Use the data in a t-chart to model writing a conclusion about the footprints. A good conclusion utilizes the three following structures: Write a sentence that answers the question that you were investigating. This is called the claim. Write a sentence that uses evidence or data from the lab to explain how you knew the answer to the question you were investigating. Write a sentence that summarizes your results. This connects to the "big idea" or underlying science concept. Drawing Conclusions…. Based on Observations and Inferences

13. Activity Page www.middleschoolscience.com/footprints-isn.pdf In your science notebook, write your conclusion.

14. Source of graphic: http://bob.nap.edu/html/evolution98/evol6-e.html http://bob.nap.edu/html/evolution98/evol6-e.html

15. Why is he doing that? Look at the picture. Make three observations. Make one inference. Draw a conclusion based on this information…

16. What is happening here?