Fourth graders strengthened their scientific process skills of observation and communication during our introductory unit this month. Development of the six basic process skills (observation, communication, classification, prediction, measurement and inference) is key to a successful year in science. Students were given a common classroom object and asked to write down as many observations as possible within a specified time period. Then students were asked to share and evaluate observations with group members. “Oh, I didn’t even notice that!” and “It makes a sound?” were just some of the candid comments overheard during the group collaboration. Students discovered the importance of not only constructing their own thoughtful observations but to value their classmates’ as well, leading to a more productive learning experience.