Observation vs Interpretation
Separate what you directly noticed or measured from your idea about what it means or what caused it. Evidence can support an interpretation without making it the same as an observation.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Identify a statement that records what someone directly noticed or measured.
- Separate an observation from an interpretation, including when both appear in one sentence.
1 · Read
An observation records what you notice with your senses or measure. An interpretation is an idea about what an observation means or what caused it. Evidence can support an interpretation. Only touch or smell things an adult says are safe.
Zara sees droopy leaves. 'The leaves are droopy' is her observation. 'The plant needs water' is her interpretation about the cause. The drooping alone does not tell her whether that idea is true.
A count can be an observation: 'I counted six shells.' Ask what the person actually noticed. Someone who watched rain fall can record it as an observation. Someone who only finds wet ground may interpret it as a sign of earlier rain.
A sentence can mix both kinds. 'The snow melted because the air warmed up' reports a change and adds a cause. Separate the change from its explanation. An explanation can be true and still be an interpretation.
Separate what you noticed from your idea about its meaning or cause.
This lesson, its questions and flashcards were written for this dataset.
Both readings were written for this dataset.
More to read
Keep two kinds of notes
Imani looks at a toy boat in a bowl. She writes, 'One end is lower in the water.' That note records what she sees.
She adds, 'Perhaps water got inside that end.' This note gives her interpretation. It could explain the lower end, but she has not checked inside yet.
With an adult, Imani can look inside the boat. Whatever she finds becomes another observation to compare with her idea.
Keeping the notes separate helps her remember what she saw and what she still needs to check.
Look closely at a drawing
A drawing shows a child beside blocks scattered on the floor. You can describe the blocks and the child's face. These are observations about the drawing.
You may think the child knocked down a tower. That is an interpretation of what happened before the moment shown.
A friend may notice something you missed. Compare the details each of you can point to. The drawing may support an idea without showing enough to settle it.
Describe the visible details separately from your explanation.
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Nothing; this is a starting point.
Optional connections
Where this leads
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.