All Activities
Science

How Scientists Work

Overview

Students explore how scientists design and carry out investigations, applying the scientific method to a question of their own.

Learning Objective
Students understand the steps of the scientific method and can apply them to a simple investigation.

Resources needed

  • Simple investigation materials — e.g. different surfaces for testing friction, or a ball to measure bounce height

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Ask: how do scientists find out if something is true?
  2. 2 Introduce the steps: question → hypothesis → experiment → results → conclusion.
  3. 3 Choose a simple question: does the height a ball is dropped from affect how high it bounces?
  4. 4 Students write a hypothesis: 'I think that... because...'
  5. 5 Design the experiment: what will you change? What will you measure? What will you keep the same?
  6. 6 Carry out the investigation and record results.
  7. 7 Write a conclusion: was the hypothesis correct? What did the data show?

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Compare two groups' results for the same investigation — do they agree?
  • Discuss: what would make this investigation more reliable? (more repetitions, larger sample).
  • Design an investigation for a question students generate themselves.
More information

Teach: hypothesis, variable, evidence, conclusion, reliable, repeat, method. The phrase 'I think that... because...' structures a hypothesis clearly. 'The data shows...' structures a conclusion.

Provide the question and hypothesis — focus on the experiment design and conclusion steps. The full method can be built up over several lessons.

Can students write a testable hypothesis? Can they identify the variable being changed and the variable being measured in their investigation?

A ball and different heights work as the investigation materials. Any measurable phenomenon can be used.

Students often write conclusions that simply restate their hypothesis as confirmed regardless of results. Data sometimes shows the hypothesis was wrong — and that is equally valid scientific knowledge.

The scientific method is the foundation of all empirical science. Teaching it explicitly at upper primary builds the investigative thinking skills needed throughout secondary science and beyond.

Activity details
Primary Medium 25–30 minutes 5 minutes prep Small Group, Whole Class Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Scientific Method Investigation Hypothesis