Do Now! (Part B)*NEW: Explain in your notebook…

1) What you see AND

2) What you think happened in the picture.

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

Details, Observations & Inferences

Observations• Any information collected with the senses.

– You use your eyes, ears, smell, taste, touch etc.

• You are describing scientific events using DETAILS.

Details in Observations• Use adjectives to provide more information.

• NO Details = a car• Details = a red 2012 mustang convertible car

EX 1: Observation? Details?

Activity #1

• Sit with your partner and look through the 4 different sets of cartoons.

• Work together to find the 6 differences in each picture and write them down on your worksheet.

EX 2: Observation? Details?

Why are observations important?

• They provide clues on how to create an experiment and how to solve a problem!

• They also tell other scientists who want to do the same experiment what is happening.

Activity #2• Pick a partner and turn your desks away

from each other.

• Roles: 1 person will be the artist and 1 person will be the “observer.”

• The observer will describe the photo to the artist BUT NEVER show the picture or say what it is.

• You have 10 min. GOOD LUCK!

2 Types of Observations:

Quantitative Observation

• Quantitative (Cuantos)

• Need tools & numbers!

• EX: SALAMI– Weighs 2 pounds– The salami is 6 inches long– It is made from 100% beef

Qualitative Observation

• Qualitative (Calidad):

• You use only your senses!

• EX: SALAMI– Smells good– Tastes like chicken– Is red colored– It is heavy

Practice: Quantitative or Qualitative?

1. Ms. Liu is 5 ft and 6 inches tall

2. The walls are white

3. Dominican Republic has beautiful beaches

4. The salami weighs 2 lbs (pounds)

5. Cheese smells bad

6. English High has 5 floors

7. There are 16 students in biology

Which type of observation is better?

Qualitative or Quantitative?

They BOTH are important and tell us more information!

Inference• Conclusions or guesses based on observations.• The process of drawing a conclusion from evidence of what you see.

PRACTICE: • Observations:

• I hear music and people laughing• I smell cotton candy, popcorn, and hamburgers• I see a lot of fun rides

• Inference = ?

Inference: This place is a fun Carnival!

Look at these two sets of animal tracks.

List 3 OBSERVATIONS

Make 1 INFERENCE

Now what do you think?

Make 3 OBSERVATIONS

Make 1 INFERENCE

Now what do you think?

Make 3 OBSERVATIONS

Make 1 INFERENCE

Activity #3

In your science notebook, write down your conclusion.

What do you think happened based on the picture with the footprints?