Thinking Like a Scientist

I have 7 brothers and sisters. What type of observation is this?

• quantitative

• qualitative

The girl is holding a blue water bottle. What type of observation is this?

• quantitative

• qualitative

Mrs. McCloskey sees a student who is not smiling in her class. She guesses that the student does not like science. Is this an observation or an inference?

• observation

• inference

I think that this is going to be the coldest winter yet.

• prediction

• observation

• inference

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What is observing?

• grouping together items that are alike

• creating representations of objects / processes

• using one or more of your senses to gather information

Tags

NGSS.2-PS1-1

NGSS.K-ESS2-1

NGSS.K-LS1-1

What is a quantitative observation?

• observation that deals with numbers

• observation that deals with descriptions

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

What are qualitative observations?

• observations that deal with numbers

• observations that deal with descriptions

What is inferring?

• explaining or interpreting the things you observe

• making a forecast into the future

• using one or more of your senses to gather information

What is predicting?

• making a forecast into the future

• creating representations of complex objects or processes

• using one or more of your senses to gather information

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

What is classifying?

• a way of learning about the natural world

• process of grouping together items that are alike

• using one or more of your senses to gather information

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2