Quantitative vs Qualitative Observations

Qualitative and Quantitative Observations

Do we measure

or use our senses?

Review - We observe with our senses.

• Our body has sense organs.

• These sense organs send messages to our brain.

• The messages help our brain learn about the world.

• In Science, we call these messages about what we sense "observations."

Match

Match the observation to the sense organ.

• The cat is black.

• The cat is soft.

• The cat is saying, "Meow."

• The cat is stinky.

I saw it with my eyes.

I felt it with my fingers.

I heard it with my ears.

I smelled it with my nose.

• I saw it with my eyes.

• I felt it with my fingers.

• I heard it with my ears.

• I smelled it with my nose.

Open Ended

What do you observe about the fish? 

"The fish is ____.

I ____ it with my ____." 

Multiple Choice

Which observation would tell you that someone is calling?

• I see the phone is white.

• I feel the phone is hard.

• I hear the phone is ringing.

Multiple Choice

Which observation would tell you the baby needs a diaper change?

• I smell the baby is stinky. 

• I see the baby is smiling.

• I hear the baby is cooing. 

Multiple Choice

Which observation would tell you the milk is spoiled?

• I see the milk is white.

• I taste the milk is sour.

• I feel the milk is smooth.

Multiple Choice

Information from our 5 senses are called ____.

• Matter

• Organs

• Observations

• Inferences

Match

Match the word to the part of speech.

• Observe

• Observation

• Observable

Verb

Noun

Adjective

• Verb

• Noun

• Adjective

​Observations can be Quantitative or Qualitative.

Multiple Choice

Quantitative observations have ____.

• Numbers

• Adjectives

Multiple Choice

Qualititative observations have ____.

• Numbers

• Adjectives

Dropdown

Quantitative Observations use​

Select answer

, but Qualitative Observations use ​ ​

Select answer

.

Multiple Choice

Which observation is Quantitative?

• The horse is brown.

• The horse has 4 legs.

Multiple Choice

Which observation is Qualitative?

• The floorboard is creaking.

• The floorboard is 30 centimeters long.

Multiple Choice

Which observation is Qualitative?

• 12 people rang the doorbell today.

• The doorbell is loud!

Multiple Choice

Which observation is Quantitative?

• I have 10 fingers.

• My fingers feel sticky.

Multiple Choice

"The room is 28 degrees Celsius." 

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Multiple Choice

"The room feels hot!"

• Qualitative

• Quantitative

Categorize

Options (8)

Today is windy.

The wind is 25 mph.

It feels so hot today.

The temperature is 19 degrees Celsius.

Uses adjectives

Uses numbers

The air feels very dry today.

The humidity is 7%.

Classify these observations into the right category.

Qualitative

Quantitative

Why make Quantitative Observations?

• In our daily life, we mostly use Qualitative Observations.

• We might describe the weather today as "Hot" or "Windy."

• These descriptions are not specific enough to make predictions.

• Scientists make Quantitative Observations.

• They might say the temperature is 17° Celsius or the wind is blowing at 35 km/hr.

• Quantitative Observations let scientists make predictions.

Dropdown

Scientists make ​

Select answer

observations, which use numbers.

Most people make ​

Select answer

observations, which use adjectives.

Multiple Choice

The most important reason scientists use Quantitative observations is ___.

• It helps them make predictions.

• It makes them sound smarter.

• The government says they have to.

Open Ended

Make a qualitative observation about the dogs.

Open Ended

Make a quantitative observation about the dogs.