Pushing the Envelope Observation and Inference. Pushing the Envelope The Principle of Uniformitarianism: The present is the key to the past.

Pushing the Envelope

Observation and Inference

Pushing the Envelope

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

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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:

Pushing the Envelope

Pushing the Envelope

• Rock Color: rusty red.

Pushing the Envelope

• Rock Color: rusty red.

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

Pushing the Envelope

• Rock Color: rusty red.

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

• Rusty red often caused by iron oxide.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

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

Pushing the Envelope

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

• What kind of work does a detective do?

Pushing the Envelope

• 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?

Pushing the Envelope

• What does Observation mean?

Pushing the Envelope

• What does Observation mean?

• What does Inference mean?

Pushing the Envelope

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

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

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

Pushing the Envelope

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

He saw a puddle of water on the sidewalk.

Pushing the Envelope

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

• What did Vincent infer from his observations?

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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?

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.

Pushing the Envelope

• 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.