Observations and Inferences

It must be summer.

• Qualitative Observation

• Quantitative Observation

• Opinion

• Inference

The penguin got pushed in.

• Qualitative Observation

• Inference

• Quantitative Observation

• Hypothesis

The penguins are black and white.

• Qualitative Observation

• Inference

• Hypothesis

• Quantitative Observation

There are 29 students in the classroom.

• quantitative observation

• qualitative observation

• inference

• hypothesis

The speed of the car is 55 mph.

• Qualitative Observation

• Quantitative Observation

• Hypothesis

• Inference

The boy is probably sad...

• Qualitative Observation

• Hypothesis

• Inference

• Quantitative Observation

A student recorded how many commercials she saw in one week. Her results are recorded above. What can you you infer?

• The tv shows lasted longer on Monday.

• She watched more tv on Monday.

• The tv shows didn't last as long as usual on Monday.

• She watched less tv on Monday.

A scientist discovers the body of an unknown species of frog in the rain forest of Brazil.  She writes several statements in her journal about the animal shown above.  Which of the following is an observation about the frog?

• The frog might be poisonous because it is very brightly colored.
• It has a mass of 22.4 grams.
• The frog is probably a tree climber because it has large, round toe pads.
• I think the frog is a species of poison dart frog because of its size and color.

A student placed 50 mealworms in the middle of an aquarium containing a light, a cardboard tube and a water dish.  He waited five minutes and then recorded the data for the first trial in the table above.  The student repeated this procedure two more times, and recorded the results.  Read the results of all three trials.  Which inference could you make about mealworms based on the results.

• The mealworms probably prefer the darkness of a cardboard tube.
• There were 6 mealworms under the light in trial 2. 
• Mealworms love water. 
• There were 36 more mealworms in the cardboard tube versus the light in trial 3.

If you spill or break something during an experiment, what is the FIRST thing you should do?

• Tell the teacher.
• Clean it up. 
• Cover it with a paper towel.
• Leave it for someone else.