1.  To have seen or not to have seen. That is the question!

2.  An observation is the gathering of information by using our five senses:  sight  smell  hearing  taste  touch  There are two types of observations:  qualitative  quantitative

3.  Qualitative observations DESCRIBE what we observe.  Qualitative = a quality of something (description)  These observations use adjectives.  Example: The sunflower has yellow petals.  Example: The coyote has tan and cream fur.

4.  Quantitative observations MEASURE what we observe.  Quantitative = quantity (number)  These observations use numbers to measure something in a quantitative way.  Example: The sunflower has 35 petals.  Example: The coyote has two ears, each 12 cm in length.

5.  Both types are valuable in science! In an experiment, quantitative measurements can be precisely and objectively compared and are therefore preferred.  Qualitative: The road is long. (DESCRIBES)  Quantitative: The road is 5 km long. (MEASURES)  Some things are easier to quantify than others, so scientists use innovative ways of turning qualitative into quantitative.  Qualitative example: The dead fish is smelly. (DESCRIBES)  It’s hard to know just how smelly.  Using a “smelliness” scale of 1 to 10 allows us to compare how smelly the fish is.  Quantitative: The dead fish is a 7 on the smelliness scale. (MEASURES)

6.  An inference is an explanation for an observation you have made.  An inference is based on your past experiences and prior knowledge.  Inferences often change when new observations are made.  Example: OBSERVATION This liquid is green and it is leaking from a brown can. I sure can smell it. Based on my observations, I think that this can is old and is leaking a toxic substance, but what do I know! INFERENCE

7.  OBSERVATIONS are information we gather directly through our five senses.  INFERENCES help explain those observations!

8.  Observations:  The school fire alarm is going off.  Possible inferences:  The school is on fire.  We are having a fire drill.  A student pulled the fire alarm…and is now in BIG TROUBLE!  These are all logical explanations for why the fire alarm is going off.

9.  What are some observations we can make?  What are some inferences?

10.  What are some observations we can make?  What are some inferences?

11.  What are some observations we can make?  What are some inferences?

12. Write down 2 observations. Write down 2 inferences.

13. Write down 2 observations. Write down 2 inferences.

14. Write down 2 observations. Write down 2 inferences.

15. Write down 2 observations. Write down 2 inferences.

16. Write down 2 observations. Write down 2 inferences.

17. Write down 2 observations. Write down 2 inferences.

18. Write down 2 observations. Write down 2 inferences.

19.  What is an inference?  How is it different from an observation?  Why are inferences important in science?  Copy all three questions down in the journaling section of your science binder.  Below the questions, write ONE good paragraph where you explain your answers and thoughts to the three questions.