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Session 1 Study Guide: What Do You Notice?

Data Science for Young Minds — Grade 3

Key Topics

TopicDetails
What observation means in data scienceWhat observation means in data science
Describing objects with specific attribuDescribing objects with specific attributes (color, size, shape, texture)
The difference between 'looking' and 'obThe difference between 'looking' and 'observing'
PracticePractice: describe 5 objects without naming them
Sorting by one attribute (all red thingsSorting by one attribute (all red things together)
Sorting by two attributes (big AND red)Sorting by two attributes (big AND red)
Why the same objects can be sorted diffeWhy the same objects can be sorted different ways
ActivityActivity: sort 30 objects at least 3 different ways
What a pattern isWhat a pattern is: something that repeats or follows a rule
Patterns in nature (seasons, day/night, Patterns in nature (seasons, day/night, tides)
Patterns in daily life (school schedule,Patterns in daily life (school schedule, traffic, meals)
Describing patterns with wordsDescribing patterns with words: 'every time...', 'usually...', 'most...'
What an observation journal is and why sWhat an observation journal is and why scientists use them
Recording observations with words, numbeRecording observations with words, numbers, and drawings
The difference between observation (whatThe difference between observation (what you see) and opinion (what you think)
Take-homeTake-home: find 5 patterns on your way home

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Looking Carefully

Learn the difference between glancing and observing. Practice describing what you see with precision.

Lesson 2: Sorting and Grouping

Sort objects into groups using different attributes. Discover that the same collection can be organized in many ways.

Lesson 3: Finding Patterns

Patterns are everywhere — in nature, in schedules, in behavior. Learn to spot them and describe them.

Lesson 4: Your Observation Journal

Start an observation journal. Record what you notice using words, numbers, and simple sketches.

Review Questions

  1. What is the difference between looking and observing?
  2. What is an attribute?
  3. Why is observation important for data science?
  4. Name three attributes you could use to describe a pencil.
  5. Can the same group of objects be sorted in more than one way?
  6. What does it mean to sort by two attributes at once?
  7. Why do data scientists sort things?
  8. If you have 30 buttons, name two different ways to sort them.
  9. What is a pattern?
  10. Give an example of a pattern in nature.
  11. Why are patterns important in data science?
  12. What is the difference between a pattern and a coincidence?
  13. What goes in an observation journal?
  14. What is the difference between an observation and an opinion?
  15. Why do scientists keep journals?
  16. If you observed the sky for a week, what patterns might you find?