KS1 British Scientists | Lives and Achievements

History Quiz - British Scientists (Questions)

British scientists ask big questions about our world and space. In this quiz, you will meet some of them and see how their ideas changed everyday life.

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Fascinating Fact:

Stephen Hawking was a British scientist. He studied black holes and space, and he wrote books for children and adults.

In KS1 History, children learn about British scientists who explored light, forces, numbers and space. Simple stories show how their ideas helped people to understand the world and invent new technology.

Key Terms

Scientist: A person who asks questions about how things work and uses careful tests to find answers.
Experiment: A planned test that helps scientists check their ideas and see what happens.
Discovery: Something new that is found or understood for the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

Which British scientists do KS1 children often learn about?

KS1 children might hear simple stories about Isaac Newton and gravity, Ada Lovelace and early computing, and Stephen Hawking, who explained difficult ideas about space in child-friendly ways.

What does a scientist do in simple words for KS1?

A scientist asks questions, makes careful observations, does experiments and then explains what they have found. Their work can lead to new medicines, machines and ways of understanding nature.

How can teachers introduce British scientists to KS1 pupils?

Teachers can share picture books, short videos, simple timelines and fun experiments. Linking each scientist to one clear idea, like gravity or computers, helps young children remember their work.

Try These Related Quizzes

Charles Darwin was a famous scientist who lived in the 1800s. What was his most famous theory?

[ ]	That dinosaurs made the planet
[ ]	That man evolved from ape ancestors
[ ]	That spacemen built all the countries
[ ]	That the whole planet is made from chocolate

Sir Isaac Newton famously 'discovered' gravity. He also built the first....

[ ]	Aluminium spaceship
[ ]	Golden apple
[ ]	Reflecting telescope
[ ]	Fully working fairground ride

Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish scientist who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. What was the first thing he said on the 'phone?

[ ]	What time is it please?
[ ]	To whom am I speaking?
[ ]	Can I call you later?
[ ]	Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you

Rosalind Franklin was a female English scientist who made great contributions to the study of what?

[ ]	PPI
[ ]	DNA
[ ]	RADAR
[ ]	LOL

Edward Jenner developed a scientific first which has saved many lives. What was it?

[ ]	The world's first vaccination
[ ]	The postage stamp
[ ]	The weighing scale
[ ]	The frying pan

Alexander Fleming discovered something which saved countless lives. What was it?

[ ]	The life buoy
[ ]	The airbag
[ ]	The traffic light
[ ]	Penicillin

Although The Countess of Lovelace was born in 1815, she is recognised as the world's first...

[ ]	female astronaut
[ ]	100m sprint champion
[ ]	female sea captain
[ ]	computer programmer

Tim Berners-Lee is a computer scientist who invented something nearly everyone uses. What was it?

[ ]	The World Wide Web
[ ]	The shopping bag
[ ]	The computer keyboard
[ ]	The computer mouse

Dr Brian Cox is a physicist who used to have a very different job. What was it?

[ ]	A traffic warden
[ ]	A keyboard player in a band
[ ]	A police officer
[ ]	A shop keeper

10.

Dr Stephen Hawking was a brilliant scientist who wrote a famous book. What is it called?

[ ]	A Long Version of Events
[ ]	A Brief History of Time
[ ]	A Quick Round Up of Information
[ ]	A Short Explanation of History

History Quiz - British Scientists (Answers)

Charles Darwin was a famous scientist who lived in the 1800s. What was his most famous theory?

[ ]	That dinosaurs made the planet
[x]	That man evolved from ape ancestors
[ ]	That spacemen built all the countries
[ ]	That the whole planet is made from chocolate

Many people did not believe his theory at first

Sir Isaac Newton famously 'discovered' gravity. He also built the first....

[ ]	Aluminium spaceship
[ ]	Golden apple
[x]	Reflecting telescope
[ ]	Fully working fairground ride

He also devised a very clever theory about how colour is seen by our eyes

Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish scientist who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone. What was the first thing he said on the 'phone?

[ ]	What time is it please?
[ ]	To whom am I speaking?
[ ]	Can I call you later?
[x]	Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you

Mr Watson was Alexander's assistant at the time

Rosalind Franklin was a female English scientist who made great contributions to the study of what?

[ ]	PPI
[x]	DNA
[ ]	RADAR
[ ]	LOL

DNA is the material that carries all the information about how a living thing will look and function

Edward Jenner developed a scientific first which has saved many lives. What was it?

[x]	The world's first vaccination
[ ]	The postage stamp
[ ]	The weighing scale
[ ]	The frying pan

Jenner is often referred to as 'The Father of Immunology'

Alexander Fleming discovered something which saved countless lives. What was it?

[ ]	The life buoy
[ ]	The airbag
[ ]	The traffic light
[x]	Penicillin

Alexander discovered this amazing drug by accident!

Although The Countess of Lovelace was born in 1815, she is recognised as the world's first...

[ ]	female astronaut
[ ]	100m sprint champion
[ ]	female sea captain
[x]	computer programmer

She wrote what is recognised as the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine, or in other words, a computer program

Tim Berners-Lee is a computer scientist who invented something nearly everyone uses. What was it?

[x]	The World Wide Web
[ ]	The shopping bag
[ ]	The computer keyboard
[ ]	The computer mouse

His early system for the web was invented and used in 1989