📚 Part 1: Understanding the Difference

1. Which statement is the best definition of an observation?

A guess about what might happen next

Information gathered using your five senses

An explanation of why something happened

A prediction based on past experience

2. Which statement is the best definition of an inference?

Facts that can be directly measured

A conclusion based on observations and prior knowledge

Something you can see, hear, smell, taste or touch

Data collected during an experiment

3. Complete the definitions:

An observation is ________________________________

An inference is ________________________________

🔍 Part 2: Observation or Inference?

4. Read each statement and tick whether it is an observation or inference:

a) The plant's leaves are yellow and wilted.

Observation

Inference

b) The plant needs more water.

Observation

Inference

c) The temperature outside is 25°C.

Observation

Inference

d) It will probably rain later because the clouds are dark and heavy.

Observation

Inference

✏️ Part 3: Making Observations and Inferences

5. Imagine you see a student sitting alone in the library with several open textbooks, taking notes, and yawning frequently. Write THREE observations about this scene:

6. Based on your observations from question 5, write TWO inferences about what might be happening:

7. You notice that all the fish in an aquarium are swimming near the surface of the water and appear to be gasping. Write one observation and one inference:

Observation: ________________________________________

Inference: __________________________________________

8. Explain why it's important for scientists to distinguish between observations and inferences in their work: