Observation inference activities
Observation inference plan with pictures album
A carpenter, a schoolteacher, and scientist were traveling by train through Scotland when they saw a black sheep through the window of the train.
"Aha," said the carpenter with a smile, "I see that Scottish sheep are black."
"Hmm," said the school teacher, "You mean that some Scottish sheep are black."
"No," said the scientist glumly, "All we know is that there is at least one sheep in Scotland, and that at least one side of that one sheep is black."
Pedagogical overview
Overview
- Pedagogical overview
- Activity 1 - Front view - Back view, observation & science
- Activity 2 - Four day observations
- Activity 3 - What is Up?
- Lab notes
- Support materials
- Back view
- Front view
- Four day observations
- Inference
- Up or down?
- Relative size
- Unusual images
This page provides images to use to discuss observation, inference, and relative position and motion.
Enjoy!
Let's dig deeper and review how learners might further develop their skill in observation and inference. Two important the science inquiry and process skills.
Disequilibrium occurs when learners expect one thing and observe another. Several of the images will provide this experience, where an initial observation is related to one idea and a closer look provides another idea. Or in some cases an initial inference is changed with one or more follow up images.
Equilibrium might occur with a closer observation or additional observation.
Concepts
- Observations are made with five basic senses: see, touch, hear, smell, and taste.
- People learn with careful observation.
- Questions can be answered by looking at objects.
- Observations can be compared through communication about the objects and the object's properties.
- When people report different observations they can take more observations to try and find agreement.
- What people expect to observe often affects what they actually do observe.
- Strong beliefs about what they expect to happen can prevent them from seeing other results.
- Unexpected observations can lead to new discoveries and to new investigations.
- Inferences are derived from observations.
- Inference as a best conclusion based on observational evidence and reasoning.
- Observation and inference are different
- Explanations are derived from observations.
- People can make difference inferences fro the same observations
Outcomes
- Describe observation as information from our senses based on real world evidence.
- Describe inference as a best conclusion based on observational evidence and reasoning.
- Explain people can have different inferences from the same observations.
- Describe how observations can be used to change inferences.
- Describe how inferences can be changed and observations made at one specific time don't change. However, the accuracy of an observation can.
Focus question
- What do you observe in this picture? Describe what you see in this picture.
- What might you infer about the picture or what is or might happen?
- What observation did you use to make your inference(s)?
Scoring guides suggestions (rubric)
Observation (scoring guide)
Top level
- Consistently aware observations are constructed and can influenced by personal experiences or by the conditions in which the observations are made.
- Know observation is the perception of properties of objects and events and inference is a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. And consistently seek to distinguish between the two.
- Believe observations are accurate representations of real objects or events. Even better than photographs or video, because you can manipulate the image as you desire or need.
Lower level
Activity 1 - Front view - Back view
Materials
- Images
- Lab note -
- Science definitions
Focus questions:
- What do you observe?
- What do you infer?
Learning outcomes:
Suggested procedures overview:
- Put learners in pairs, focus their attention with a picture or video.
- Ask. What do you observation?
- What do you infer?
- What observations do you base your inference on?
Exploration -
- Put learners in pairs.
- Show picture front.
- Ask. What do you observe?
- Clarify observations from inferences. Observation - hair, long, male, female, human, non human
Invention -
- Show picture back.
- Ask. What is the difference between observation and inference?
- Why is it important to recognize inferences as tentative?
- Discuss how science is like the before and after picture. Make tentative inferences based on observations and change them when new information is available.
Discover
Explore more ...
- Display the Snow White comic
- After a giggle.
- Ask. What are some observations are necessary to understand the comic? S White name on mailbox. Newspaper - Python escapes from zoo. Seven bumps in the snake (python).
- Ask. What inference? The snake in the comic is the one that escaped from the zoo. The seven dwarfs were home. The snake ate the dwarfs. The Lady is S. White. S. White is Snow White
- Which is funnier? The observations or the inference?
Activity 2 - Four day observations
Materials
- Images for four day observation
- Lab note -
Focus questions:
- What do you observe?
Learning outcomes:
- Observation can be tricky.
- Process concepts and outcomes for observation and inference
Suggested procedures overview:
- Put learners in pairs, focus their attention with a picture.
- Tell. You will look at a set of three pictures each day for four days.
- On the fourth day we will discuss what you observed.
- You may record your observations?
- On fourth day. Ask. What did you observe?
- Discuss importance of observation and notes (or pictures).
Exploration -
- Put learners in pairs.
- Tell. You will look at a set of three pictures each day for four days.
- On the fourth day we will discuss what you observed.
- You may record your observations?
- Show the designated picture for each day as noted below for 1 minute each.
- If learners take out phone, to take a pic, then can decide if that is okay or not. There are benefits either way.
- Defer any comments with mentioning, We'll share on the fourth day. Could make up a situational story about how a scientist might make observations in the bush and not have an opportunity to talk about it with anyone till ...
Day 1 - Person - | - Bear - | - Stone man
Day 2 - Person - | - Bear - | - Stone man
Day 3 - Person - | - Bear - | - Stone man
Day 4 - Person - | - Bear - | - Stone man
Invention -
- On fourth day. Ask. What did you observe?
- Hopefully they will have discovered the optical illusion for the person (old or young) and the necklace or teeth change from day 1 -3 and back to day 1 on day 4.
- Discuss importance of observation and notes (or pictures).
Discover
May want to explore other optical illusions.
Activity 3 - What is Up?
Materials
- Images for observation
- Lab note -
Focus questions:
- What is up?
- What is down?
Learning outcomes:
- Describe up and down as relative to a reference object.
- Process concepts and outcomes for observation and reference point or object.
Suggested procedures overview:
- Put learners in pairs.
- Ask. What is up?
- Share definitions.
- Try them out on the photos.
- Discuss up and down for Earth. Does it work for all places on Earth? Up in space? On the Moon, Sun, other planets, their moons?
Exploration -
- Put learners in pairs.
- Ask. What is up?
- Share definitions.
- Write definitions on board.
- Try them out on the photos.
Invention -
- Modify definitions as needed.
- Try current definitions for.
- Person standing in your classroom.
- Discuss up and down for Earth.
- Ask. What is a reference point?
- Try current definition for ...
- All places on Earth? North pole, south pole, places in between, Above the surface of the Earth, Underground to the middle of the Earth, out the other side?
- Up in space? Plane, satellite orbiting the Earth?
- On the Moon,
- Sun,
- Other planets, their moons?
- Write a definition that works anywhere in the Universe.
- What is the reference point in the definition?
Discover
Explore relative position and motion ...
Lab notes 1 - Front view - Back view
Materials
- Picture front and back
- Lab notes
Focus questions:
- What do you observe and infer?
Challenge
Observation back
Inference from observation of back
Observation front
Inference from observation of front
Lab notes 2 - Four day observations
Materials
- Pictures displayed by teacher
- Lab notes
Focus questions:
- What do you observe each day?
Challenge
Observe a set of three pictures (1 minute each pic) each day for four days and record what your observations.
Pic 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Pic 2
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Pic 3
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Lab notes 3 - Up & down
Materials
- Pictures displayed by teacher
- Lab notes
Focus questions:
- What is up?
Challenge
Observe the pictures below and determine what is up and down.
Pic Person in room
Pic Hershey bottle
Pic Orange pop
Pic Snoopy balloon
Write an operational definition for up.
Will your definition work anywhere on Earth? If not, edit it.
Will it work any place in space? If not, edit it.
Support materials
Image back view
Image front view
Bear
Sitting room
Office
Dollhouse with hand
Dollhouse with hand
Necklace
Hershey bottle ... which way is up?
Jet
Person
Person
Person
Person
Lady in room ... which way is up?
Man in room ... which way is up?
Orange Nehi Pop ... which way is up?
Orange pop ... which way is up?
Which crater picture ... is up?
Earth and moon ... which way is up?
What caused the black hole?
Source:
Discover magazine,
May/June: 2023. p. 7
Polar bear picture
Polar bear
Railroad tracks
Snoopy balloon ... which way is up?
Snow White
Stone
Waterspout
