Year 5 Science · Working scientifically: planning and reporting · Summary

Year 5 Science Working scientifically: planning and reporting: summary and key words

Part of the Year 5 Science working scientifically: planning and reporting chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

Chapter summary

Skill	Method
Fair tests	Change only the independent variable. Measure the dependent variable. Keep the control variables the same.
Measuring	Use an instrument with a fine scale. Take repeat readings, leave out any clear anomaly, and find the mean.
Recording and graphs	Use tables with units. Bar charts compare groups, line graphs show change over time, and scatter graphs show patterns.
Predicting	Predict from the pattern in the evidence, and test the prediction with a further fair test.
Reporting	Write a conclusion that matches the results, and say how much the results can be trusted.
Evidence	Evidence supports an idea when it agrees with it, and refutes the idea when it does not.

I can name the independent, dependent and control variables in a test
I can choose an instrument with a fine scale, and find the mean of repeat readings
I can record results in a table and choose a bar chart, line graph or scatter graph
I can read values from a graph, and use the pattern to make a prediction
I can plan a further test, changing one thing only
I can write a conclusion that matches the results, and say whether evidence supports or refutes an idea

independent variable: the variable you change on purpose in a test
dependent variable: the variable you measure; it depends on the change you make
control variable: a variable that is kept the same, so that the test is fair
fair test: a test in which only one thing is changed
precision: how finely a measurement can be read on a scale
accuracy: how close a measurement is to the true value
mean: the total of several results, divided by how many results there are
anomalous result: a result that is very different from the others
prediction: a sensible guess about what will happen, based on the evidence
conclusion: what the results show, written so that it matches the evidence
causal relationship: when one thing causes a change in another
refute: to show that evidence goes against an idea