Classroom Activities: Making Observations

These classroom activities are designed to complement the Making Observations topic on BrainPOP Jr.

Flower Power
Bring in different flowers for students to observe. Have small groups examine each one and record their observations. Encourage students to draw pictures and write down what they see using words and numbers. Groups can create their own charts and graphic organizers to record their observations or you may wish to distribute one for everyone to use. Then have groups make comparisons of the different flowers. What did they learn by observing? Students can share their ideas with the whole class.

What’s the Weather?

Have your students observe the weather for a week, month, or year. They can use thermometers and make rain or snow gauges by putting a ruler in a clear cup. Remind them about the importance of observing the weather during different times of the day and always checking around the same times each day. How will they decide who writes the observations down each day, and when? Gather the data in a graph or chart and have students interpret the data, make inferences and predictions, or come up with questions to investigate further.

Blindfold

Divide the class into small groups and have one member get blindfolded. Other members can give something for the blindfolded person to observe with the senses. Some suggestions are a potato, a rubber band, a pencil, a leaf, etc. What does he or she feel, smell, or hear? Encourage blindfolded students to compare the objects to things they know and ask questions to the other group members. Once the blindfolded person names the correct object, they can change roles. Students will learn that they can observe when they are not even using their eyes.