1. Understanding Observations and Inferences

2. Review What is an observation?
An observation is data acquired using the senses or tools that enhance the senses.
What are the two kinds of observation?
Quantitative and qualitative

3. How do you make good observations?

4. What did that activity teach you about making observations?
Look carefully
Be detailed

8. What do the illusions teach you about making observations?
It’s possible to be fooled!
--observe more than once
--use tools to measure things
--ask other people to help

9. Tricky tracks
For each picture you see, record your observations. Remember to record as much detail as you can. (number your pictures so you can tell each section of your writing apart)

10. Picture 1

11. Picture 2

12. Picture 3

13. What else does this tell us about observations?
Additional data can influence your observations
It can be important to observe something over time to see if it changes
It’s important to distinguish between observation (what we actually perceive with our senses) and inference (what our background knowledge leads us to think it means)

14. What is an inference?
An inference is a conclusion drawn based on observation or text combined with background knowledge.

15. Make 5 observations about this cartoon.
Make an inference about what the message of the cartoon is.