Observations and Inferences

To make an inference, we use evidence from the text, and our prior knowledge. 

• True

• False

Rosario was enjoying her vacation in the California sun. She was lying on araft in the ocean. This was perfect, Rosario thought. There was no noise—no childrenscreaming, no horns honking—and there were no papers to grade. All she couldhear was the crashing of the waves onto the beach. Rosario sighed and lookedaround her at the beauty of the ocean. Then she saw something long and graycoming toward her on an approaching wave. She thought, “This could only be onething!” and started yelling for help. She paddled back to shore as quickly as she could.She made it to the shore in one piece , but she realized that many people were laughing at her.
We can infer that the "thing" was not a...

• shark

• surfer

• swimmer

Benjamin says, 'That's a sparrow.' Maya says, 'It might be a sparrow, but it could also be a finch.' What's the difference between an observation and an inference?

• An observation is a scientific fact, like Benjamin's statement, while an inference is a hypothesis, like Maya's statement.

• An observation is something you notice, like Benjamin noticing the bird, while an inference is a conclusion based on observations, like Maya's statement.

What is an inference?

• A conclusion or deduction based on evidence and reasoning

• A random thought with no logical basis

Emma and Aria see smoke in the distance. What can they infer from this?

• There is a fire nearby.

• It's raining outside.

Evelyn, Jackson, and Lily find a cryptic note during a treasure hunt. How can they infer from this text?

• By asking someone else to make the inference for them

• By using clues from the text to make an educated guess or draw a conclusion

When do detectives use inferences in their work?

• When they draw conclusions based on the clues they find

• When they ignore all the clues and information they have gathered

Grace hears loud music from her neighbor, Liam sees his friend eating ice cream, Maya sees a cat meowing, and you see your friend shivering in a jacket. What can each infer from their observations?

• Grace thinks her neighbor is sleeping, Liam thinks it's snowing, Maya thinks the cat is hungry, and you think it's cold.

• Grace thinks her neighbor is awake, Liam thinks it's hot, Maya thinks the cat is hungry, and you think it's cold.

Aria says making inferences while reading is important. Why might she say that?

• It helps to understand the text at a deeper level

• It encourages ignoring the details in the text

What are some common blunders people often commit when making inferences?

• Ignoring all evidence

• Jumping to conclusions without enough evidence