“What Do You Mean, That’s Not Right?!”

The first step of the scientific method is observation. In my opinion, this is the most important and enjoyable part of the scientific method. Observation is the skill of “seeing” things that are there, “seeing” things that aren’t there and “seeing” things that should be there.

Observation is the skill that separates scientists from super scientists. Einstein, Galileo and Newton, for example, were fantastic observers. They were able to “see” beyond and through what other people were able to “see” before them in order to get to deeper truths inside science.

I’m putting “see” in quotes because there’s more to observing then just seeing with your eyes. First, you need to detect something. You can use your eyes, ears and nose to detect things. You can also use instruments like telescopes, microscopes or prisms to detect things. Somehow, something needs to come to your attention.

But that’s not all there is to observing something. Next you need to use your knowledge and your intuition, to fully observe what’s happening. When you look up into the night sky you might only see bunches of little white dots, but a trained astronomer would see stars of different magnitudes, galaxies and constellations. The astronomer’s knowledge allows her to “see” more. This is why I think observation is so much fun.

Observing allows you to know things and knowing things allows you to observe more things! You can’t help but get smarter if you spend your time observing! In this lesson, we’re going to spend time becoming better observers. Try this activity.

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You need:

• A partner

1. Tell your partner that you are going to give them about 5 seconds to read a sentence.

2. Let your partner take a look at the sentence and count to 5 slowly in your head and then take the sentence away.

3. Ask your partner what the sentence says in the image above.

4. If they are wrong, which they almost always are, give the sentence back to your partner and let him or her look at it again.

5. Marvel at how long it takes your partner to find out what the sentence really says!

This activity never fails to amaze me. This is a great example of the difference between seeing and perceiving. Your eyes see, your mind perceives and unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for something to get messed up along the way! Your eyes saw that second “in” but your mind edited it! In fact, you had to focus quite hard before your mind allowed you to “see” what was really there! Strange, but true.

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