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Q + Q Observations Organizer

A Q + Q Observations Organizer learning strategy is used to develop and practice the skill of making qualitative and quantitative observations.

To support the development of observation skills and classifying/organizing skills.
To help students understand the concepts of quantitative and qualitative observations.
To provide a basic framework for practicing making quantitative and qualitative observations.

Before using this strategy, introduce its purpose to the students and provide a structured example to teach and model expected behaviours.
Provide students with a Q+Q Organizer Template. See Tools and Templates.
Review or introduce the difference between qualitative and quantitate observations using specific examples (e.g., qualitative – the leaves are green, fuzzy, etc. and quantitative – the leaf is 10 cm long, the plant is 17 cm tall, etc.).
Provide students with appropriate observing (e.g., magnifying glass, microscopes, binoculars, etc.) and measuring tools (e.g., rulers, scales, thermometers, probe ware, etc.) and model and/or demonstrate how to use different tools for collecting qualitative and quantitative data.
Have student share and compare their Q+Q observations with elbow partners or table groups to build on each other’s skills of observation.

Have beginners make observations using the Q + Q organizer with simple quantitative data and items that have distinct qualitative features.
As students are making qualitative observations, prompt them to consider observing with all of their senses, with clearly defined exceptions to address safety concerns (Safety Alert: Students should not be encouraged to taste something, unless it is safe and a planned aspect of gathering data for an investigation. Always check for potential allergies prior to introducing food products or tasting as a component of student inquiry).
Begin by having students focus on making either quantitative or qualitative observations and then have them make the other type of observations.
Introduce and prompt the use of descriptive vocabulary that will support making qualitative and quantitative observations.
Use the Q+Q Observations - Guided Practice [PDF] prior having students make observations from explorations.

If students cannot write qualitative observations, have them describe observations orally or through visual representations (i.e. drawings, photographs)
Students’ oral observations could be charted for them.
Students in groups can make their own individual observations on sticky notes and then add these to a group Q+Q Organizer, which are then sorted by the group.
Modify the Q+Q template as necessary to accommodate different types and amounts of data and/or observations.

Q+Q Observations - Seed Investigation - landscape pdf doc

Q+Q Observations - Seed Investigation - portrait pdf doc

Q+Q Observations Organizer - Template for K-3 pdf doc

Q+Q Observations - Guided Practice pdf doc