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In order to get your results, you will need to make observations or take measurements.

Investigations 01

Investigations are the very essence of science. This is the first of three KS2 Science quizzes on the subject and it focusses on the language of investigation, for example words like 'variable' or 'measure'.

There are many different words used by scientists to help them understand things. These words are the language of investigations. 'Variable' is one of those words. A variable is a factor in an experiment that can be changed. 'Measure' is another word used by scientists. It's not only things like length or height that can be measured, lots of other things can too, like the number of leaves on a plant or how salty something tastes. When you plan and carry out an investigation, you are being a proper scientist, so it's important to use the right words to describe what you are doing.

See how well you speak the language of science by trying this, the first of three quizzes on investigations.

How many variables should you change during an investigation?

One

Two

Three

Four

If you make more than one change you cannot be sure which has altered the results

In order to get your results, you will need to make observations or do what?

Make a poster

Take measurements

Draw a graph

Take photos

You might need to measure the height of something, a distance, the temperature, the volume, mass, or a number of other variables

What does a 'fair test' mean?

Everyone in the group gets to have a go

Everyone's ideas are contributed

Only one variable is changed while the rest are kept constant

Each thing that is being tested is treated fairly

A 'fair test' always means that the person carrying out the investigation only changes one variable

What should come at the end of an investigation?

A mind map

Photos

An answer to the prediction

A message to your teacher

An investigation should show whether the prediction was right or wrong

Before you carry out your investigation, what should you make?

A graph

A variable

A prediction

A cup of tea

Before you begin, you should decide what you think your investigation will show

What does 'method' mean?

How you decide to display your results

The measurements you take

The design of your poster

A list of steps you will take in order to carry out your investigation

It can be helpful to number the steps in your method

Results can be displayed using what?

A table

A graph

A chart

All of the above

Graphs, tables and charts are all good ways to display your results

What do we call the items you will need for your investigation?

Equipment

Diagrams

Methods

Variables

'Equipment' can also be called 'apparatus'

When you carry out an investigation, there are many things (factors) which can change, or vary. What are these factors called?

Measurements

Variables

Graphs

Results

Some examples of variables are temperature, size, time of day...

10.

What do we call the question you are investigating, or what you are trying to find out?

Your prediction

Your aim

Your method

The variable

A predictions is what you think will happen, a method is how you go about finding things out and a variable is something that can be changed to see how it affects a result

Author: Sheri Smith