Worked example
Mia sees three drops on a leaf and says, “There are three drops.” What is this?
Answer & why
Answer: an observation
Mia reports the drops she can see and count.
Preschool · Science
Tell an observation from a guess
Describe what is directly noticed, and separate it from a guess about why it happened.
6 authored questions + worked example
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All questions
All 6 authored questions for this skill.
Question 1
A child asks, “Will the wet leaf dry?” What kind of statement is this?
- an instruction
- an untested guess
- a question
- an observation
A hint
An observation tells what you can notice directly, such as color, sound or movement.
Answer & why
Answer: a question
It asks for information that could be investigated.
Question 2
An adult says, “Put the leaf on the tray.” What kind of statement is this?
- a question
- an untested guess
- an observation
- an instruction
A hint
An observation tells what you can notice directly, such as color, sound or movement.
Answer & why
Answer: an instruction
It tells someone to carry out an action.
Question 3
A child hears a bell and says, “I hear a ringing sound.” What is this?
- an observation
- an untested guess
- a question
- an instruction
A hint
An observation tells what you can notice directly, such as color, sound or movement.
Answer & why
Answer: an observation
The statement reports a sound noticed directly.
Question 4
A child feels a safe fabric sample and says, “This feels soft.” What is this?
- an instruction
- an observation
- an untested guess
- a question
A hint
An observation tells what you can notice directly, such as color, sound or movement.
Answer & why
Answer: an observation
Touch provides evidence about the fabric’s texture.
Question 5
Mia sees three drops on a leaf and says, “There are three drops.” What is this?
- an instruction
- an observation
- an untested guess
- a question
A hint
An observation tells what you can notice directly, such as color, sound or movement.
Answer & why
Answer: an observation
Mia reports the drops she can see and count.
Question 6
Mia says, “An unseen bird probably splashed those drops.” No one saw this happen. What is this?
- an untested guess
- a question
- an observation
- an instruction
A hint
An observation tells what you can notice directly, such as color, sound or movement.
Answer & why
Answer: an untested guess
The suggested bird is a possible reason, not something observed.