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Research 1
Quarter 1 – Module 4:
The Basic Science Process Skills:
Inferring

NORALA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Poblacion, Norala, South Cotabato

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 Introductory Message
Research 1 for Grade 7 is a course in the Special Science Program designed to equip
learners with essential scientific attitudes and science process skills that will prepare them
in conducting science investigations. These skills include observing, measuring, inferring,
classifying, predicting, communicating, formulating research problems, formulating
hypothesis, defining and identifying variables, describing relationships between variables,
designing an investigation, experimenting and writing simple scientific report. This simple
science investigation shall be confined within the school premises. This course provides an
excellent groundwork or pre requisite background for higher research work.

For the learner:

Welcome to the Research 7 Self-Learning Module (SLM) on The Basic Science Process
Skills : Inferring.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use your notebook in answering the exercises/activities.
2. Don’t forget to answer all the exercises/activities included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next activity.

If you encounter any problem or difficulty in answering the tasks, do not hesitate to consult
your teacher. Always remember that you are not alone.
I hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain deeper
understanding of the most relevant competencies. You can do it.

CONTENT STANDARD
The learner demonstrates understanding of the scientific attitudes, applies appropriate
basic science process skills in designing simple science investigation.

PERFORMANCE STANDARD
design simple science investigation applying scientific attitudes and basic science
process skills which are the inherent requirements in conducting simple science
investigation.

LEARNING COMPETENCIES

Describe the differences between an observation and an inference

(SSP-RS7SPS1e-5)

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 What I Need to Know

Scientists ask questions about the things they observe. Whenever you ask
questions and gather data about these objects and events, you are acting an expert
in science. A scientist has a keen sense of observation and a logical way of
gathering, organizing, and processing information. They use these basic science
process skills to guide them in finding solutions to problems.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

a. describe inference,
b. make inferences based on the given observation, and
b. differentiate between observing and inferring.

What I Know

Direction: Read and understand the questions. Write the letter of the correct
answer in your notebook.

1. Which of the following statements is an inference?

a. Ana is dancing gracefully.
b. The sky is cloudy, it might rain this afternoon.
c. The weather is bad over the region of Cordillera.
d. You are beautiful.

2. What is referred to as additional information from observations by relating them

to experience or by reasoning logically?
a. inference c. observing
b. measuring d. skill

3. Which of the following statements is true about inference?

a. It involves identifying cause and effect relationship from events observed
b. It makes evaluations and judgments based on past experiences
c. It relates to the critical thinking skills-find causes, reason and conclude.
d. All of the above

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4. In making an inference, which is closely done with a certain observation?
a. classify c. predict
b. explain d. value

5. Which is the best inference for the given observation below?

The dog is barking loud in front of the gate.
a. The dog is hungry.
b. The dog wants to go out.
d. The owner of the dog is outside the gate.
d. There are outsiders near the gate.

6. Which best showed the difference between observing and inferring?

a. Observing is gathering information while inferring is giving meaning to
the observations made.
b. Observing is giving attention to what you see, feel, hear, taste and smell
while inferring is classifying what had been observed.
c. Observing means curiousity while inferring is humility.
d. Observing means using one or all of the senses while inferring is using
only one sense.

7. There two lovely ducklings in the pond are calling for their mother. What sense
is used in this statement?
a. feeling c. smelling
b. hearing d. tasting

For items 8-15, tell whether the statement is observation or inference.

8. The baby is hungry.
9. The flowers smell good.
10. The meat is spoiled.
11. The pipe is leaking.
12. There are more than two families living in the building.
13. It might rain this afternoon.
14. The butterflies have beautiful and attractive colours.
15. The water in the river is deep.

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Lesson Research 1
1
The Basic Science Process Skills
(Inferring)

Learning Objectives:

a. Describe inference
b. Make inferences based on the given observation
c. Differentiate between observing and inferring

What’s In

Activity 1: Do You Know Me?

Direction: To decode the terms, write the letter of the alphabet that comes
after each letter. The underlined letters need not be replaced. A
clue is given under each scrambled letters. Write your answer in
your notebook. The first one is done for you.

1. S U K D S

– An instrument used to measure the length of an object.

Answer: RULER

2. U J F R N P N F U E R
– It is used to measure the temperature.
Answer: ___________________________

3. L J U F R
– The base unit in measuring the volume of an object/
Answer: ___________________________

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 What’s New

Activity 2: Paint me a Picture!

Direction: Perform the activity by examining the details of the picture.
Answer the questions below in your notebook.

Materials:
ballpen or pencil Notebook

Procedure:

QUESTIONS

1. What do you think made the marks in the picture?

2. How many things and/or organisms do you think were involved in the picture?
3. What event or events probably took place in the scene?

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 What is It

An inference is an assumption that is based on observations. You always

make inferences from your everyday observations. When you apply reason to
explain an observation, you make an inference. You can make more than one
inference to explain an observation.

Study the illustration below.

You can infer several things about these illustrations. You could infer that they
represent safety hazard or precautions you should take. You could also infer that
one of the drawings represent fire. The shape of the symbol helps you infer it’s
meaning. You use your past experiences to associate fire with the shape of the
symbol.

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When you infer, you make evaluations and judgments based on past experiences.
The skill of inferring may involve identifying cause-and-effect relationships from
events observed, identifying the limits of inferences, and testing the validity of
inferences. Inferring also relates to the critical thinking skills - find causes, reason,
and conclude.

Therefore, an inference is an interpretation you make or a conclusion you draw

from your observation. It may be an explanation of the observation. It may or may
not be correct.

How does inference differ from observation?

Observing means giving attention to what you see, feel, touch, see or smell. The
main purpose is to learn about the world around us. Inferring is to derive
additional information from observations by relating them to experiences or by
reasoning out logically

How do you make an inference?

A. Study the picture carefully.

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 a. What do you observe about the picture above? You may notice the
number of the cats, the size of the kittens, the pigmentation and the
thickness of its hair, among other things. These are your observations.
Can you list other observations about the picture?

b. When you draw a conclusion from your observations, you are making an
inference. For example, you could infer that the larger cat is the
mother of the smaller ones. You can infer that the father of the kittens
had a fine hair, or with pigments. What other inferences can you make
about this picture?

B. Study the table below and try to think of other reason(s) possible in each of the
following observations:

Observations Reason(s) / Condition(s)

There is a spot in the backyard where The soil is not fertile.

malunggay plant does not grow.

The book is not as thick as expected. There were missing pages.

The ground is wet. The dog had pissed on it,

The fishes are floating on the water of The fishes are dead.
the aquarium.

The floor is not bright and shiny. The floor is dusty.

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 What’s More

Activity 3: Tell Me My Name

Direction:
Perform the activity carefully. Observe caution. Write your answer in
your notebook. Indicate which of the statements for Picture A and B
are observations and which are inferences.

Picture A
Statements for Picture A

Example: The man is wearing a hat.

Answer: Observation

1. The man is heading the carabao forward with a rope.

2. It is about 5:00 in the afternoon.
3. The shadows are long.
4. A haystack is in the center of the field.
5. The man is walking away from the field.
6. The field is planted with rice.

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 Picture B

Statements for Picture B

Example: The girl is using an umbrella.

Answer: Observation

1. The shadows are short.

2. Some windows are open.
3. The building has many gates.
4. It is about 12 noon.
5. Some windows have curtains.
6. More than two families live in the building.

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 What I Have Learned

Activity 4: Tell Me Once More

Direction: Identify each statement as an observation or an inference.

Do it correctly.

1. The leaves on the tree are moving, so the wind must be blowing.
2. The leaves on the tree are moving.
3. A deer was on the trail recently.
4. There is a deer track on this trail.
5. The tire is flat.
6. The tire has a leak.
7. The dog is growling.
8. The dog is angry.
9. The boy is crying.
10. The boy must be hungry.

What I Can Do

Activity 5: Make a Difference

Direction: Read the story below. Deduce about the science skills used by
the characters in the story. Answer the question briefly. Write
your answer in your notebook

Four blind men, who had never heard of an elephant, met one in
the jungle. To learn about the animal, each man carefully felt a
different part of it. One explored the elephant’s trunk; the second,
the leg; the third, the tusk; and the fourth man, the tail.

Questions:
1. What science skills did the four blind men use to decide what the
elephant was like?

2. What is the difference between an observation and an inference?

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 Assessment

Direction: Read and understand the questions. Write the letter of the correct
answer in your notebook.

1. Which best shows the difference between observing and inferring?

a. Observing is gathering information while inferring is giving meaning to
the observations made.
b. Observing is giving attention to what you see, feel, hear, taste and smell
while inferring is classifying what had been observed.
c. Observing means curiousity while inferring is humility.
d. Observing means using one or all of the senses while inferring is using
only one sense.

2. There two lovely ducklings in the pond are calling for their mother. What sense
is used in this statement?
a. feeling b. hearing c. smelling d. tasting

3. Which of the following statements is true about inference?

a. It involves identifying cause and effect relationship from events observed
b. It makes evaluations and judgments based on past experiences
c. It relates to the critical thinking skills-find causes, reason and conclude.
d. All of the above

4. In making an inference, which is closely done with a certain observation?

a. classify b. explain c. predict d. value

5. Which of the following statements is an inference?

a. Ana is dancing gracefully.
b. The sky is cloudy, it might rain this afternoon.
c. The weather is bad over the region of Cordillera.
d. You are beautiful.

6. What is referred to as additional information from observations by relating them

to experience or by reasoning logically?
a. inference c. observing
b. measuring d. skill

7. Which is the best inference for the given observation below?

The dog is barking loud in front of the gate.
a. The dog is hungry.
b. The dog wants to go out.
d. The owner of the dog is outside the gate.
d. There are outsiders near the gate.

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For items 8-15, tell whether the statement is observation or inference.
8. The sky is gray.
9. It will rain soon.
10. The dome is falling.

11. The animal was a dinosaur.

12. This is a picture of bones.
13. The bones are partially buried.
14. Some bones are missing.
15. It seems that the animal is walking.

Additional Activities

Activity 6: Explore Me
Direction: Fill in the third column of the table by making your own
inference of the given observation. Write your answer in your
notebook.
Object Observation Inference

The caterpillar is crawling.

Caterpillar

The stones are beautifully

arranged.
Stone

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Activity 5: Make a Difference
1. observing, inferring
2. answer may vary
Activity 4Tell Me Once More
1. Inference Activity 3: Tell Me My Name
2. Observation
3. Inference Picture A Picture B
4. Observation 1. Observation 1. observation
5. Observation 2. inference 2. observation
6. Inference 3. observation 3. observation
7. Observation 4. observation 4. inference
8. Inference 5. observation 5. observation
9. Observation 6. inference 6. inference
10. inference
Activity 2Paint Me a Picture What I Know
1. Possible answer: chicken/duck, 1. B
farmer, student, motorcycle 2. A
2. 4 3. D
3. Busy street where everyone goes to 4. B
work 5. D
6. A
7. B
8. Inference
9. Observation
10. Inference
Activity 1: Do You Know Me 11. Inference
1. Ruler 12. Observation
2. Thermometer 13. Inference
3. liter 14. observation
15. inference
Answer Key
References
BOOKS
Albarico, Joni M, Avasar, Ruel G, Castor, Lucila G, (2010), Teaching guide in
Integrated Science pp. 11-13
Amasol, Teresita A, Balce, Marina, Galvez, Elvira & Lozano, Lourdes F., (2003),
Science & Technology for the Future 1 pp.13-15
Bayquen, Aristea V, Darvin-Faraon, Genevieve, Ferriols-Pavico, Josefina Ma, &
Silverio, Angelina A, Ramos, John Donnie A (Author-Coordinator) (2013), Exploring
Life Through Science Series pp. 33-40
Lastimado, Arturo V, Sabido, Gemma T & Tanora, Vicentius Invictus M, (2005),
Science & Technology 1 Integrated Science pp. 8-9
Mangubat, Ma. Carmina R, Rasalan, Elizabeth S (Author/Coordinator) (2005),
Integrated Science Laboratory Manual and Workbook pp. viii-x, 27-30
Rabago, Lilia M, Ph.D., Joaquin, Cresencia C, Ph.D, Ferrer, Diana L, Intong, Mona
Lisa A, Mingoa, Thelma R,(1997), Science and Technology General Science
Textbook for First Year pp. 316-318
(2006,2009), Integrated Science – Science & Technology for First Year p. 10

Prepared by: Reviewed by:

LAARNI A. PABIONA ELMER B. BILLANES

Science Coordinator SS Principal II
09998890108

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