KS2 Science textbook

Chapter 1: Working scientifically

  • Strand Working scientifically
  • Level Year 3
  • Practice 95 questions with step-by-step solutions

National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 2 science, Year 3. Content: WS1 ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them, WS2 set up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests, WS3 make systematic and careful observations and take accurate measurements using standard units, with thermometers and data loggers, WS4 gather, record, classify and present data in a variety of ways, WS5 record findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables, WS6 report on findings, with oral and written explanations, displays and conclusions, WS7 use results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions, WS8 identify differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes, WS9 use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support findings.

Open Year 3 chapter

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Ask questions that I can test, and say which type of enquiry would answer them
  • Plan a fair test: change one thing, measure the result, and keep everything else the same
  • Take careful observations and accurate measurements, using standard units
  • Record, sort and present my results in a table, a key, a bar chart or a labelled diagram
  • Write a report, a conclusion and a prediction that match my results, and suggest an improvement
  • Compare differences and similarities, and say which evidence supports an idea

You should already know

  • Asking simple questions and making a fair test (Year 2 Science, Chapter 1)
  • Measuring with a ruler and reading scales, and reading simple tables and bar charts (Year 2 Maths and Science)

Where this leads

  • Planning fair tests and using evidence in the plant and light chapters of this book (Chapters 2 to 8)
  • Using a range of enquiries and more precise measurements in Year 4 Working scientifically

Lessons in this chapter

  1. 1.1 Asking relevant questions
  2. 1.2 Setting up a fair test
  3. 1.3 Careful observations and accurate measurements
  4. 1.4 Recording, classifying and presenting data
  5. 1.5 Reporting findings and drawing conclusions
  6. 1.6 Differences, similarities and evidence
  7. Summary and key words
  8. Check-up and practice test questions

Read the whole chapter on one page (good for printing).