1. Do Now! (Part B)
*NEW: Explain in your notebook…
1) What you see AND
2) What you think happened in the picture.
2. Details, Observations &
Inferences
modified by Liz LaRosa www.middleschoolscience.com 2009, from original posted at:
www.science-class.net/PowerPoints/Observation_Inference_8th.ppt
3. Observations
• Any information collected with the senses.
– You use your eyes, ears, smell, taste, touch etc.
• You are describing scientific events using
DETAILS.
4. Details in Observations
• Use adjectives to provide more information.
• NO Details = a car
• Details = a red 2012 mustang convertible car
6. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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!
11. Quantitative Observation
• Quantitative (Cuantos)
• Need tools & numbers!
• EX: SALAMI
– Weighs 2 pounds
– The salami is 6 inches long
– It is made from 100% beef
12. Qualitative Observation
• Qualitative (Calidad):
• You use only your senses!
• EX: SALAMI
– Smells good
– Tastes like chicken
– Is red colored
– It is heavy
13. 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
14. Which type of observation is
better?
Qualitative or Quantitative?
15. They BOTH are important and
tell us more information!
16. 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 = ?
