Pushing the Envelope

Observation and Inference

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• The Principle of Uniformitarianism: The present is the key to the past.

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• The Principle of Uniformitarianism: The present is the key to the past.

• The assumption that the processes and forces that act on Earth are the same now as they have always been.

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• The Principle of Uniformitarianism: The present is the key to the past.

• The assumption that the processes and forces that act on Earth are the same now as they have always been.

• Three major geological cycles responsible for the creation of Earth features: uplift, erosion, and sedimentation.

• Determining the history of Earth is one of the great endeavors of science that involves inferences.

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• Determining the history of Earth is one of the great endeavors of science that involves inferences.

• Consider what happens when geologists discover an unfamiliar type of rock. For example:

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• Rock Color: rusty red.

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• Rock Color: rusty red.

• Rock Composition: sand-sized grains of quartz, mostly rounded, frosty appearance.

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• Rock Color: rusty red.

• Rock Composition: sand-sized grains of quartz, mostly rounded, frosty appearance.

• Rusty red often caused by iron oxide.

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• Rock Color: rusty red.

• Rock Composition: sand-sized grains of quartz, mostly rounded, frosty appearance.

• Rusty red often caused by iron oxide.

• Frosty appearance suggests sedimentary sandstone originally in sand dunes.

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• During the next few weeks, you will assume the role of geological detectives.

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• During the next few weeks, you will assume the role of geological detectives.

• What kind of work does a detective do?

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• During the next few weeks, you will assume the role of geological detectives.

• What kind of work does a detective do?

• What kind of detective work do you think a geologist might do?

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• What does Observation mean?

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• What does Observation mean?

• What does Inference mean?

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• An observation is information gathered directly by using one or more of the five senses: seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, and smelling.

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• An observation is information gathered directly by using one or more of the five senses: seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, and smelling.

• An inference is a logical conclusion based on observations and past experience.

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• Vincent saw a puddle of water on the sidewalk on his way to the golf course today. He thought that the Lee family must have watered their lawn earlier this morning.

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• What did Vincent observe on his way to the golf course?

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• What did Vincent observe on his way to the golf course?

He saw a puddle of water on the sidewalk.

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• What did Vincent observe on his way to the golf course?

• What did Vincent infer from his observations?

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• What did Vincent observe on his way to the golf course?

• What did Vincent infer from his observations?

The Lee family had watered their lawn earlier this morning.

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• What did Vincent observe on his way to the golf course?

• What did Vincent infer from his observations?

• Why do you think Vincent made that inference?

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• What did Vincent observe on his way to the golf course?

• What did Vincent infer from his observations?

• Why do you think Vincent made that inference?

He has seen the Lee family water their lawn before and the same puddle appeared.

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• You will be practicing inferential skills on a familiar object: Envelopes

Pushing the Envelope Event Evidence

Pushing the Envelope EventIt was mailed.

EvidenceCancelled stamp.

Pushing the Envelope EventIt was mailed.Letter was opened.

EvidenceCancelled stamp.(What evidence?)

Pushing the Envelope EventIt was mailed.Letter was opened.

What happened to the envelope?

What are the clues or evidence that these events have happened?

Was the person who sent this male or female?

EvidenceCancelled stamp.(What evidence?)

Select five or six events and evidence that happened to your envelope.

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• In the next available blank space in your Journal, develop a narrative account describing as much of the history of the envelope as you can infer.

• Title the entry: Pushing the Envelope.

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• Trade envelopes with another group.• Take 10 minutes to study the new

envelope and make observations and inferences: Journal narrative too.

• Compare your observations and inferences with the original group.