Observing

Background

Observing is the basic skill underlying all the science skills. By observing, we learn about the world around us. We observe using the five senses: seeing, touching, hearing, tasting, and smelling. To make accurate observations, follow these steps:

Gather information about objects or events using one or more of the five senses.
Aid your observations by using instruments such as hand lenses and microscopes. Refine your observations by using measurements.
Carefully record your observations.
Repeat observations to improve reliability.

Discussion

Ask students to observe ice as it changes.

Explain that when describing change, it is important to include observations about the object before, during, and after the change occurs.

What observations can you make about the ice ?
(Shaped like a cube, feels hard, cold to the touch, no detectable taste, and so on).

Then have students place the ice cube in a clear, plastic glass.

What happens to the ice during the melting process ?
(Becomes irregular in shape, feels wet, becomes a liquid, and so on)

What observations can you make about the melted ice ?
(Conforms to the shape of the container, feels wet, no detectable taste, and so on)

What senses did you use to make your observations ?
(Seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting)

Is there any sense you did not use when making observations about the ice ?
(Hearing) How could you use this sense to make observations about the ice ?
(Click cubes together, drop cubes on the floor, swish the melted ice around in the glass, and so on)

How could you make your observations better ?
(Use a tool such as a thermometer to make the observations more precise.)