Hi Everyone,
Here is the excerpt from one of my lesson plans on the “observations kit”
mini-lab activity:
Observations Discovery Mini-Lab Activity:
 Students work in lab groups. Each lab group is given a gold
coloured sponge, a measuring tape, and 7 minutes to make and
record as many observations as possible. The teacher circulates to
formatively assess student work.
 The observations are taken up, with the teacher recording all
qualitative observations on one side of the board and quantitative
observations on the other. Once recorded, students are asked to
think-pair-share to identify the differences between the
observations recorded on each side of the board. The distinction
between the qualitative and quantitative observations is developed.
 Qualitative and quantitative observations are discussed and
students record brief notes about each on the back of Page 5.
 Students complete practice questions where they distinguish
between qualitative and quantitative observations (Page 6).
The “qualitative vs. quantitative observations kit” is located in a basket
in the prep room (in the Grade 7 Intro. Section). It’s the box filled with
gold-coloured sponges and measuring tapes. Please feel free to borrow
the kit, but please also return it in tidy condition, so it can be used again
by someone else.
The handout that goes with this activity is included on the following
page, along with an answer sheet.
Page # _______________________
Date: ________________________
MAKING OBSERVATIONS
Observe the specimen you are given. In the box below, record all your
observations. Remember to be as detailed as possible!
Specimen: __________________________________________
MAKING OBSERVATIONS
There are two main types of observations that scientists make.
1) QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS
2) QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATIONS
Definition:
Definition:
Examples:
Examples:
Remember: ________________________________________________________________________
A) State whether each observation below is quantitative or qualitative.
1. The pencil is large. ________________________________________
2. We have 100g of powder. ___________________________________
3. The lake is very deep. ______________________________________
4. The bag has a mass of 800g. _________________________________
5. The round wood log is heavy. ________________________________
6. The lamp requires a 45 Watt bulb. ____________________________
7. The milk smells sour. ______________________________________
8. Her screams were loud and many. ____________________________
9. He spilled 150 mL of clear liquid. ____________________________
10. The bag’s volume increased. ________________________________
MAKING OBSERVATIONS
There are two main types of observations that scientists make.
1) QUALITATIVE OBSERVATIONS
2) QUANTITATIVE OBSERVATIONS
Definition:
Definition:
An description made using the senses
A description made using numbers
Examples:
Examples:
Eyes- visual observations
Ears – auditory observations
Touch – tactile observations
Smell – olfactory observations
Area – cm2, mm2
Perimeter – mm, cm, m
Volume – mL, L, cm3
Temperature - °Celsius
Time – seconds, minutes, hours
Remember: N in quantitative is for “number”!
B) State whether each observation below is quantitative or qualitative.
1. The pencil is large.
qualitative
2. We have 100g of powder. quantitative
3. The lake is very deep. qualitative
4. The bag has a mass of 800g. quantiative
5. The round wood log is heavy. qualitative
6. The lamp requires a 45 Watt bulb. quantiative
7. The milk smells sour. qualitative
8. Her screams were loud and many. qualitative
9. He spilled 150 mL of clear liquid. quantitative
10. The bag’s volume increased. qualitative