The Scientific Method

Word box
hypothesis
variable

There are many ways

of finding out about
the world but the
‘scientific method’ is a
way to help us answer
scientific questions.
We start with a
Scientists need to be curious.
question.

Scientists look for similarities and differences in the things they study.
They sort things into groups. They compare things using careful
observations and measurements. They test their ideas and observe
the effect one thing has on another thing.
But not all questions can be answered by science.
A testable question is one that can be answered
through experimentation.

Next, we need to observe and gather

information about the question
we are studying so we can pose a
hypothesis.

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Exploring Science

Testable or
not? Why does the time the Does the
sun rises change over temperature of
Which of the children's the course of a year? water affect
how quickly it
ideas are testable freezes? What do
Do all boys
questions? Discuss with a like football?
rabbits
prefer to
partner. eat?

Choose one testable Do taller

people have
question and write a bigger feet? Which
colour
plan to describe how you flower do
would find an answer. Are bees like
worms best?
Choose one question horrible?

that is not testable and

explain why.

A hypothesis is our ‘best guess’ answer to our question

I think... based on what we already know or have researched. It does
not have to be right but we do have to be able to test it.

What will
we change? What effect
What equipment are we going
will we need to to measure?
do our test?

Is our
How will we test fair?
record our
results?

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 Exploring Science

The important thing for effective experiments is to only change one thing,
or variable, at a time. This way we can check our results and know it was
what we changed that affected the answer. 
To make a test fair we need one variable to change and one variable to
measure or observe. Everything else we need to keep the same.
Keeping drinks cool
The children wanted to find out what material was best for keeping their
can of fizzy drink cool. They tested four materials.
Answer the questions below about the children’s investigation.

We need to use We need all the cans We will take

the same size of drink to be the temperature
pieces of material same temperature measurements of
for each can. at the start. each drink every
15 minutes.

1 What variable Finally, after running our tests we can analyse

did the children what our results show and make a conclusion
change? or answer to our original question.
2 What variable did By going through this process, scientists
they measure the have a way to see if their original ‘guesses’
effect upon? were right.
If your test was a good one, another
3 What variables
scientist can do the same test and get the
did they keep the
same result.
same?
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