Year 4 Science Working scientifically revisited: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Read the key idea in section 1.1.

1. Read the definition. A prediction says what you think will happen, and why.
   prediction
2. Write the answer.
   prediction

Check. A prediction is written before the test. ✓

Method. Read the level of the water at eye level.

1. Find the line. The top of the water is at the 40 ml mark.
   40 ml
2. Write the number. The number is 40.
   40
3. Write the answer.
   40

Check. The mark between 30 and 50 is 40. ✓

Method. Read the top of the red liquid.

1. Find the top of the liquid. The liquid is between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.
   between 20 and 30
2. Read the scale. The liquid is at 24 degrees Celsius.
   24
3. Write the answer.
   24

Check. Two small marks above 20, at 2 degrees each. ✓

Method. Compare the two averages.

1. Read the averages. Towel B is 16 ml, and Towel C is 13 ml.
   16 and 13
2. Compare them. 16 is bigger than 13, so Towel B soaks up more.
   Towel B
3. Write the answer.
   Towel B

Check. Sixteen is more than thirteen. ✓

Method. Think about what is kept the same.

1. Think about the test. Everything except the one changed thing must stay the same.
   stay the same
2. Write one thing. For example, the amount of water.
   amount of water
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any one of: the amount of water, the time, the size of the towel.

Check. Only the towel is changed in a fair test. ✓

Method. Add the four counts.

1. Add them. 7 plus 5 plus 3 plus 6.
   7 + 5 + 3 + 6
2. Find the total. The total is 21.
   21
3. Write the answer.
   21

Check. Check: 21 is the total in section 1.4. ✓

Method. Look for the test that changes only one thing.

1. Look at a). Changing the amount of water as well as the towel is not fair.
   not fair
2. Look at b). Only the towel changes, so this is a fair test.
   only the towel
3. Write the answer.
   b

Check. A fair test changes only one thing. ✓

Method. Read the definition in section 1.2.

1. Read the definition. The result is the thing we measure in the test.
   result
2. Write the answer.
   result

Check. The result is what the test finds out. ✓

Method. Add the three trials, then divide by three.

1. Add them. 12 plus 14 plus 13 makes 39.
   12 + 14 + 13 = 39
2. Divide by three. 39 divided by 3 is 13.
   39 divided by 3 is 13
3. Write the answer.
   13

Check. Check: 13 + 13 + 13 = 39. ✓

Watch out. Divide by the number of trials, not by the number of towels.

Method. Count the things that changed.

1. Count the changes. The friend changed two things: the towel and the water.
   two things
2. Decide. A fair test changes only one thing, so the test is not fair.
   not fair
3. Write the answer.
   No. Accept any sentence that says two things were changed, so the test is not fair.

Check. Only one thing should change in a fair test. ✓

Method. Read the two words.

1. Think about the test. The thing we measure is the result of the test.
   result
2. Write the answer.
   result

Check. The changed thing is the one we choose to change. ✓

Method. Think about what a measuring cylinder measures.

1. Think about the unit. Water in a measuring cylinder is measured in millilitres, which is ml.
   ml
2. Write the answer.
   ml

Check. Cm is for length, not for water. ✓

Method. Read the description.

1. Read the description. Changing one thing and keeping everything else the same is called a fair test.
   fair test
2. Write the answer.
   fair test

Check. A fair test makes the results easier to explain. ✓

Method. Read the top of the red liquid.

1. Find the top of the liquid. The liquid is between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.
   between 20 and 30
2. Read the scale. The liquid is at 24 degrees Celsius.
   24
3. Write the answer.
   24

Check. Two small marks above 20, at 2 degrees each. ✓

Method. Take the poured water away from the starting amount.

1. Read the starting amount. The cylinder starts with 35 ml.
   35 ml
2. Take away the pouring. 35 minus 10 is 25.
   35 - 10 = 25
3. Write the answer.
   25

Check. Check: 25 ml plus 10 ml is 35 ml. ✓

Method. Add the three results, then divide by three.

1. Add them. 16 plus 15 plus 17 makes 48.
   16 + 15 + 17 = 48
2. Divide by three. 48 divided by 3 is 16.
   48 divided by 3 is 16
3. Write the answer.
   16

Check. Check: 16 + 16 + 16 = 48. ✓

Method. Make a prediction based on an idea.

1. Choose a towel. Choose the towel you think will soak up the least.
   the least
2. Give the reason. Give a reason you can test.
   reason
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any prediction with a reason, such as: Towel A, because its trials were the smallest.

Check. A prediction is written before the test. ✓

Method. Think about one result.

1. Think about one trial. One trial can be unusual, by chance.
   unusual
2. Think about three trials. Three trials show whether the result is typical, and the average is more reliable.
   typical
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any reason that says three trials show whether a result is typical, and make the average more reliable.

Check. More trials give a more reliable answer. ✓

Method. Compare the two averages.

1. Read the averages. Towel B averaged 16 ml, and Towel A averaged 10 ml.
   16 and 10
2. Write the conclusion. Because 16 is bigger than 10, Towel B soaks up more water than Towel A.
   Towel B soaks up more
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any conclusion that says Towel B soaks up more water than Towel A, because its average is higher.

Check. The conclusion matches the averages. ✓

Method. Find the largest count and add the counts.

1. Find the largest count. Sycamore has the largest count, which is 7.
   Sycamore
2. Add the counts. 7 plus 5 plus 3 plus 6 makes 21 leaves in total.
   21
3. Write the answer.
   Accept any sentence that names sycamore as the most common leaf, and gives the total of 21 leaves.

Check. Sycamore was the most common, and there were 21 leaves in all. ✓