Dose of Discovery: Week 2 Observation vs. Inference Challenge

Our brains are so quick in the processing of data collected by

our five senses and making inferences, that kids are shocked to

hear that they need to slow their thinking down for science. In

order to collect data to serve as the basis for evidence to answer

scientific questions or test design solutions under a range of

conditions, kids need to learn how to make precise and accurate

observations. Additionally, to carry out successful investigations,

kids require practice analyzing and interpreting the data they

collect to provide evidence for phenomena.

Observation: Sensing and noting a fact or occurrence with one of your 5 senses

Inference: a conclusion based on those observations

Materials:

1 mystery object that the kids most likely will not know what it is or the purpose of it.

o If you don’t have something at the house, you can use one of the pictures at the end of the lesson,

but it may be more difficult because they can only use their eyes for observation.

o You can also have each sibling make a mystery object from recyclables and craft supplies and have the

kids answer the questions about each other’s inventions.

5 Senses Eye Spy Game Cards

o Printed on 2 different colored papers (if you don’t have colored paper, you can just label the blank side

of the cards with the words “room” and “sense”)

o Cut out and make 2 different decks (1 room deck; 1 sense deck)

Extension Activity: COVID-19 Family Time Capsule PDF

Activity:

1. In order to engage your kids in this activity, pull out the mystery object and have them pass it around,

touching and looking closely at the object. First, ask for only observations about the object and see if

they can focus only on facts that they can sense (see, feel, hear, smell, but no taste). The kids will do their best, but they often mix up observations and inferences.

2. When the kids share their observations or inferences, remind them that their brains think too fast and

they need to slow down! Prompts like these can help them separate observations from inferences:

So, what do you actually see, feel, or smell?

That sounds like an inference, or conclusion based on what you can see or feel,

What makes you think that?

If the item seems like a ________, what evidence makes you think that?

3. During this time, use the definitions at the top of the page to clearly define observation and inference,

so the kids can make sense of the distinction. When you have a few strict observations, ask the

students for some inferences as to the origin and purpose of the object based on those observations.

4. Once the kids have a good understanding of making strict observations, bring out the two decks of

cards. Let them know that they get to play a game of Eye Spy with a fun twist! Make sure that each

colored deck is shuffled really well and have the first child pick one card from each deck.

5. All of the kids then go to the type of room that was drawn and the child that drew the cards goes first

with having to pick out something in that room that they then describe using the specific sense that

was on the drawn sense card. Example: If the card drawn is a Bedroom and the sense is Hearing the

child could say “Eye Spy with my little eye something that would sound shrill” because an old alarm

clock on the bedside table.

6. All the family members then try and guess what thing that they have chosen to describe. Once the

object is guessed, another family member picks cards from the two piles and repeat the process. Do

this however many times as you want or until one person guesses the chosen items correctly 7 times.

Men’s Hair Clippers Ice Shaver

Bread Slicer Pressure Cooker

Bedroom

Living

Room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Backyard

Bedroom

Living

Room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Backyard

Bedroom

Living

Room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Backyard

Bedroom

Living

Room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Backyard

Touch Touch

Taste Taste

See See

Hear Hear

Smell Smell

Touch Touch

Taste Taste

See See

Hear Hear

Smell Smell