SC.5.N.2.1 Distinguishing between observations and opinions

Curious Carl conducted an experiment on the eating habits of black bears. While living in the woods, Carl was able to record the daily diet of five bears. After a year of observation, Carl summarized his findings in the graph.

Which statement is an observation rather than an inference?

Hannah wants to know which items are attracted to magnets. She decides to conduct an experiment to test a silver crayon, a metal screw, a cotton ball, a bookmark, and a paper clip. Before she investigates, she makes a prediction. She predicts that the silver crayon, the metal screw, and the paper clip will be attracted to the magnet. After conducting her experiment, Hannah finds out that only the metal screw and the paper clip were attracted to the magnet.

What reason MOST LIKELY explains Hannah's prediction that the silver crayon would be attracted to the magnet?

Maya's father told her that hummingbirds like to drink the nectar from red flowers. Maya noticed that most of the hummingbird feeders in the store were made of red plastic, and wondered if what her father said was true.

She decided to conduct an experiment to see if hummingbirds really preferred red to other colors. Maya hung three bottles, upside-down, in her garden. One was red, one was green, and the last one was clear. She filled the bottles with the same sugar solution and screwed a drip nozzle into each one.

Then she waited and watched.

Maya counted twelve hummingbirds and all twelve flew to the red feeder for food. What can we conclude from Maya's results?

Scientists maintain records of observations, procedures, and explanations during investigations. They should be careful to separate their actual observations from their ideas about what was observed.

Shawna tried a new fertilizer on half of her vegetable garden (Side A) and did not add any fertilizer to the other half (Side B). She recorded her observations and ideas in a notebook during her investigation.

Which statement from her notes is an idea about her observations?

Mina's science class decides to conduct an experiment to learn more about ice. She sets one ice cube on the counter at room temperature. She sets another same-sized ice cube in the class refrigerator.

Mina predicts that since it is warmer on the counter at room temperature, the ice cube on the counter will melt faster. What result would confirm this prediction?