Observing scientifically

Observing scientifically

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This task asks you to think carefully about some science observations.

Question

Ann, Bill, Tom, and Mary were looking at a tree. All the leaves were green except for a twig with dry, brown leaves. The children said different things about this tree.

 

Ann: "The tree has started to die".
Bill: "The twig's leaves are brown".
Tom: "The leaves should have turned red first".
Mary: "That twig has got a disease".

 

Which one said what they really saw?

    • Ann

    • Bill

    • Tom

    • Mary

Question

Four children were exploring on a beach and had stopped to look into a rock pool.

 

Kingi said: "I can see a hermit crab".
Jane said: "There's a huge sea anemone".
Rod said: "I can see it! There's another one the same over here".
Linda said: "The sea anemone is twice as big as the crab".

Three of the things that were said can be checked just by looking, but one can only be
checked by measuring. Whose statement is it?

    • Kingi's

    • Jane's

    • Rod's

    • Linda's

Level:
3
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Living World
Keywords: 
observation, trees, crabs
Description of task: 
Task: Students differentiate between simple observations and inferences, and between observations that require measurement and those that do not. Assessment focus: observing scientifically.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss describing being about what you see, and explaining being about what your observations make you think.
Science capabilities: 
Gather and interpret data
Answers/responses: 
 

Y6 (12/1997)

a)

B

easy

b)

D

moderate
Teaching and learning: 

Observations are descriptive, and include things that can be counted or measured. Inferences are more interpretive – they are the meanings we "read into" our observations. Children who say a brown twig is dead or diseased are going beyond what they see to think about what their observations mean. However it is not really possible to separate observation and inference cleanly because our brains interpret everything we observe in ways that are shaped by what we "know" already.