Fossil Footprints

An inference is an educated guess.  There are several different stories that can be derived from a picture.  If there is not an explanation then any number of scenarios is possible.  The fossil footprints activity shows the students three pictures.  Each new picture reveals a bit more of the story and when all three pictures are revealed there are several possible stories.  It is up to the students to decide which story is more likely.  They will create an inference about what happened based on the information available in the picture.
POSITION 1

POSITION 2

POSITION 3

There are questions that accompany each picture.  The questions are designed to help the students create their own inferences.  We will go over them in class today.

The start up for today is "What do you think an inference is?"