To make inferences about what is inside a film canister.

Materials:

- Black plastic film canister
- Objects and materials that will fit into the film canister, such as marbles, sand, rice, water, beans, salt (keep objects secret)

Procedures:

1. Place one of the objects into the canister and replace the top.
2. Challenge your child to guess what is inside the canister by shaking, rattling, and rolling the canister.
3. Record your child’s observations on the Shake, Rattle, and Roll Data Sheet. After making several observations, your child may be able to guess (infer) what is in the canister.
4. Record your child’s guess or have him or her draw what might be in the canister. Invite your child to open the canister and look inside.
5. Talk about your child’s observations and guesses and compare them to observations of the actual object. It does not matter whether or not the guess is correct.
6. Repeat the activity at least two more times using other objects.

Questions to Asks:

- Describe what you hear.
- What can you feel?
- How does the canister roll?
- What do you think is in the canister? What made you think so?

Additional investigations:

- Invite your child to put objects into the canister for you to infer what’s inside.
- Make another inference box by placing larger mystery objects in a shoe box.