Making Observations, Collecting Data, & Recording Observations

In Science this week, we learned that we make observations whenever we receive information (data) from our senses.  We can describe our observations qualitatively, with words, or quantitatively, with numbers, measurements, and/or units.

Today we observed, collected data, and recorded data about gummy worms.  We used hand lenses to observe qualitative characteristics and rulers to collect quantitative data (length of gummy worm and stretched gummy worm).  We even tied in some Math (fractions) when we used a number line to practice measuring to the nearest half, quarter, eighth, or sixteenth of an inch.  We also discussed how we can tell equivalent measurements in simplest form using the fewest units possible.