Observations, Inferences, and Hypothesis Writing

In your science notebook, answer these questions: How did your story differ from the true story? Did you use only FACTS in your story or did you make some assumptions?

Do Now: Use a yellow highlighter to go back through your paragraph. Highlight the FACTS that you used in your paragraph. What is a fact?

What is an observation? A. 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. These are “qualitative observations”.

Observation Describing something using your five senses. Another word for a fact. You can not dispute an observation. It is true. Examples: The sky is blue. It is sunny out. The item in container 3 weighed 5 grams.

Qualitative Observation Sometimes scientists must make very careful observations. Often their senses are not good enough. There are some things that cannot be observed using just your senses. (Examples: radiation, sound waves, planets, cells, etc.)

Can you think of ways that scientists have solved this problem? How can scientists extend their senses? Microscopes, Telescopes, satellites, etc.

Quantitative Observations These types of observations involve using #’s. Such as time, dates, distance, amounts.

Observations On a sheet of paper, record 3 observations about someone in your science classroom

What is an inference? When you infer, you make a mental judgment based on observations. Inferences cannot be directly observed. They require thought. For 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. An inference is a statement based on your interpretation of the facts.

Inferences On your sheet of paper, record 3 inferences about someone in your science classroom

Inference A judgment using prior knowledge that explains an observation. Could be called an opinion. Not always true! Examples: I saw Jake yawn; therefore, he is tired It is sunny, so it must be hot outside. Object 3 rolled, so it must be a bouncy ball.

Examples Observations That plant is extremely wilted. The car stopped running. The White Sox are leading their division. Inferences That plant is extremely wilted due to a lack of water. The car stopped running because it was out of gas. The White Sox are leading their division because they are playing well right now.

What observations and inferences can you make about the following pictures?

Do Now: Go back to the paragraph you wrote about the airplane. Look at what you thought were “facts.” Are those really facts, or are they inferences? Make a T-Chart in your notes and record your observations and inferences from your story! ObservationsInferences

Hypothesis Writing Turn and talk to your neighbor about: What three words are in ALL hypothesis statements. What three variables you learned about.

Step 1 Melissa raises crickets at her pet store that she sells for reptile food. She thinks that crickets chirp more often when the temperature gets warmer. She decides to conduct an experiment to prove her theory. Identify the variables. Variable NameID Independent Dependent Control

Step 1 Melissa raises crickets at her pet store that she sells for reptile food. She thinks that crickets chirp more often when the temperature gets warmer. She decides to conduct an experiment to prove her theory. Identify the variables. Variable NameID IndependentTemperature Dependent Control

Step 1 Melissa raises crickets at her pet store that she sells for reptile food. She thinks that crickets chirp more often when the temperature gets warmer. She decides to conduct an experiment to prove her theory. Identify the variables. Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp Control

Step 1 Melissa raises crickets at her pet store that she sells for reptile food. She thinks that crickets chirp more often when the temperature gets warmer. She decides to conduct an experiment to prove her theory. Identify the variables. Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp ControlTime measured, crickets

Step 2 Based on the variables you identified write your “If” statement. “If” tells the reader what will be changed. What variable is changing? 3 rd person only!!!!! Write your statement. Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp ControlTime measured, crickets

Step 2 Based on the variables you identified write your “If” statement. “If” tells the reader what will be changed. What variable is changing? 3 rd Person only!!! If the temperature of a crickets cage is changed, Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp ControlTime measured, crickets

Step 3 Based on the variables you identified write your “then” statement. “Then” tells the reader what will happen because of the change What variable is “happening” or being measured? 3 rd Person only!!! Write your statement… Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp ControlTime measured, crickets

Step 3 Based on the variables you identified write your “then” statement. “Then” tells the reader what will happen because of the change What variable is “happening” or being measured? 3 rd Person only!!! If the temperature of a crickets cage is changed, then crickets will chirp more often when the temperature gets warmer, Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp ControlTime measured, crickets

Step 4 Based on the variables you identified write your “because” statement. “Because” tells the reader how you know this will occur. 3 rd Person only!!! Write your statement…. Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp ControlTime measured, crickets

Step 4 Based on the variables you identified write your “because” statement. “Because” tells the reader how you know this will occur. 3 rd Person only!!! If the temperature of a crickets cage is changed, then crickets will chirp more often when the temperature gets warmer, because the crickets are uncomfortable and are making it known to their owner. Variable NameID IndependentTemperature DependentTimes the crickets chirp ControlTime measured, crickets

Step 5 Reread the hypothesis and check it for spelling/grammar. If the temperature of a crickets cage is changed, then crickets will chirp more often when the temperature gets warmer, because the crickets are uncomfortable and are making it known to their owner.

You Try #2