Science Skills
Observation or Inference?
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Key Vocabulary
observation observe infer inference
Part I. Observation or Inference?
Directions: Read each statement and decide whether it is an observation or an inference. Did the
person making each statement observe or infer what he or she stated? Circle your answers.
1. The container is filled to the 350 mL mark with water.
observation inference
2. The Sun rose at 6:54 this morning.
observation inference
3. The caterpillar did not eat the moth because it is not a carnivore.
observation inference
4. Sound traveled faster through the desk than through the air.
observation inference
5. The plant on the left is growing more because it has been receiving more water.
observation inference
6. When the Sun came out, it made the rain stop.
observation inference
7. I can jump high in tennis shoes because they have rubber on the bottom.
observation inference
8. When the power is turned on, the game lights up and plays a song.
observation inference
9. Dinosaurs died out when they could not adapt to the changing climate.
observation inference
10. Water can fall as precipitation, which may include rain, snow, or hail.
observation inference
© Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 www.sciencea-z.com
WORKsheet Science Skills—Observation or Inference?
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Part II. Make Observations and Inferences
Directions: Look at the picture below. Then write three observations and two inferences, based
on the picture.
1. (observation) ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. (observation) ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. (observation) ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. (inference) ___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. (inference) ___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
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© Learning A–Z, Inc. All rights reserved. 2 www.sciencea-z.com
