You have practiced observing all week. Great job, scientist! Today we learn one more big idea. There is a difference between what we observe and what we guess.
An observation is what our senses tell us. "The dog is brown" is an observation. We can see it. A guess based on clues is called an inference. "The dog is hungry" is an inference. We cannot see hungry. We are guessing from clues.
Both are useful! Scientists observe first. Then they make smart inferences from their observations. But a good scientist always knows which is which.
Today you will sort observations and inferences. Then you will show off your new skills!
1. What do we call something our senses tell us?
2. What do we call a guess based on clues?
3. Which comes first for a scientist, observing or inferring?
4. Is "the cat is sleepy" an observation or an inference? Why?
Write O for observation or I for inference.
| Statement | O or I? |
|---|---|
| The leaf is green. | |
| The baby is crying because she is tired. | |
| The bell made a loud sound. | |
| The sidewalk is wet, so it must have rained. | |
| The blanket feels soft. | |
| The cookie smells like chocolate. |
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
Look out a window for two minutes. Write two observations and one inference.
Observation 1:
Observation 2:
Inference (my smart guess):
You see muddy paw prints on the kitchen floor. They lead to the dog's bed. The dog's paws are muddy.
1. Write one observation from the story.
2. Write one inference. What do you think happened?
Write today's date in your journal. Then finish these sentences:
This week I learned that scientists ______________________________.
My favorite activity this week was:
| Skill | How did I do? Circle one |
|---|---|
| I can use my senses to observe. | GREAT / OK / NEED PRACTICE |
| I can record in my journal. | GREAT / OK / NEED PRACTICE |
| I can compare two objects. | GREAT / OK / NEED PRACTICE |
| I know observation vs. inference. | GREAT / OK / NEED PRACTICE |
Play "I Spy" with your family tonight. Give observation clues like "I spy something red and smooth." Next week we will explore materials and their properties!