 When you observe, you become aware of something using one of your senses.  Your five senses are smell, taste, sight, touch, and sound.  In an observation you simply describe something as it appears.  An observation is a statement describing a fact.

In the space below, record 5 observations about your science classroom

Are there cars parked on the sides of the road?

What color is the pickup truck driving in the road?

Any minivans around?

What does the blue sign say?

What's the speed limit?

Are there any pedestrians on the road?

1. Yes 2. Blue 3. Yes 4. Yard Sale mph 6. No

A Duck, Bunny, or BOTH?

This image contains a picture and a word. Do you see both of them?

 There are some things that cannot be observed using just your senses. (Examples: radiation, sound waves, planets, cells, etc.)  How do you think these things were discovered?

 A possible explanation  An assumption  A mental judgment  Based on your observations and prior knowledge.  Inferences cannot be directly observed. They require thought.

 EXAMPLE: If you get up in the morning, look up at the sky and observe dark clouds, observe the air is cool and humid, and observe puddles on the ground, you might infer that it has recently rained.  Note: you did not see rain; you decided that it rained based on your observations.

Observations:  That plant is wilted.  The car will not start.  The windows are open. Inferences:  The plant did not get enough water.  The car is out of gas.  It was hot in the classroom.

 On the next slide, state whether the statement is an observation or an inference.

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 by deeply religious people. 4. The date 1722 is printed on one side of the coin. 5. The coin was made in The face on the coin is a representation of the nation's president.

 What observations can we make about this picture?  What can we infer based on this picture?