2. WARM-UP What do you notice about your environment? Record your observations.

4. KEY QUESTIONS

5. What observations do soccer players make during a game? What actions might they take, based on their observations? Observations are a way to gather information. Photo credit here © Corbis / Superstock

6. Observations can determine the difference between life and death. © Chris Johns/ National Geographic Images © James L. Stanfield / National Geographic Images

7. Powers of observation can vary greatly. Eagles have amazing eyesight. They can focus in two places at once, forward and to the side. Bloodhounds are superior sniffers. Millions of olfactory cells help them trace scents. Dolphins can “see” using feedback from soundwaves. This complex sensory system is known as echolocation . © Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures © Alaska Stock Images © James L. Stanfield / National Geographic Images

8. How have humans enhanced their powers of observation? © Mark Christmas / National Geographic Society © Dan Westergren/National Geographic Images; © David Doubillet / National Geographic Images;

9. KEY QUESTIONS

10. Take a look. Is this observation casual or scientific? © Gene J. Puskar/AP Images

13. Take another look. Is this observation casual or scientific? © Gene J. Puskar/AP Images

14. KEY QUESTIONS

16. KEY QUESTIONS

18. Next, observations are interpreted. What can be learned from the graph? What do the images reveal? © Greg Marshall/National Geographic Society Remote Imaging

19. Now Try Again What do you notice about your environment? Practice making and recording scientific observations!

20. What did you observe? What senses did you use? Share & Discuss Did factors such as time, location, tools, or knowledge impact your observations? © David Doubilet/National Geographic Images