Science / Year 6 / Working Scientifically / 6.1
Estimated time: 40 minutes | Difficulty: Medium | Ref: KS2-WS-1
Learning objective: Select appropriate enquiry types to answer questions
Use the pathway to build a clear mental model. Open each node and answer the check question.
Every investigation begins with a question you want to answer. Your question determines what type of enquiry you need. Ask yourself: "What do I want to find out?" Good scientific questions can be tested and answered through investigation.
Check: What makes a question "scientific"? (Hint: It must be testable!)
There are five main types of scientific enquiry: Fair tests (testing one variable), Pattern seeking (looking for relationships), Observation over time (monitoring changes), Classifying and grouping (sorting by characteristics), and Research using secondary sources (using books, websites, experts).
Check: Can you name all five types of scientific enquiry?
Once you've chosen your enquiry type, plan what you will do step by step. Consider: What equipment do you need? How will you keep it fair? How many times will you repeat measurements? How will you record your results?
Check: Why is it important to plan before starting an investigation?
A good investigation is reliable (gives consistent results when repeated) and valid (actually tests what you intend to test). Plan how to make your enquiry both reliable and valid before you begin.
Check: How can repeating measurements improve reliability?
Scientists don't just jump into experiments - they carefully plan their investigations first. Planning means deciding what question to ask, what type of enquiry to use, and how to carry out the investigation properly. Good planning leads to reliable results that you can trust.
Different questions require different types of investigation. Choosing the right type is a key scientific skill:
| Enquiry Type | When to Use It | Example Question |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Test | When you want to test how one factor affects another | Does the length of a ramp affect how far a car rolls? |
| Pattern Seeking | When you look for relationships in data you collect | Do taller people have larger feet? |
| Observation Over Time | When you need to watch something change over a period of time | How does a bean seed grow over two weeks? |
| Classifying and Grouping | When you need to sort things by their characteristics | How can we group these minibeasts by their features? |
| Research (Secondary Sources) | When you cannot investigate directly | What is the surface temperature of the Sun? |
Good planning ensures your investigation will actually answer your question. Without proper planning, you might collect the wrong data, make unfair comparisons, or forget important steps. Real scientists spend a lot of time planning before they begin experimenting - this is a skill you'll use throughout your science education and beyond!
Question: Which material is best for keeping a cup of tea warm?
Why fair test? You want to find out how one factor (the type of insulation material) affects another (how quickly the tea cools). You can control other variables like the amount of water and starting temperature.
Plan: Wrap identical cups in different materials (wool, foil, bubble wrap, nothing). Add the same amount of hot water at the same temperature. Measure temperature every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. Use a data logger or thermometer.
Question: Do Year 6 pupils have faster reaction times than Year 3 pupils?
Why pattern seeking? You cannot control age as a variable - you must look for patterns in data collected from different people. You're looking for a relationship between age and reaction time.
Plan: Test reaction times of 10 pupils from each year group using a ruler drop test. Record all results in a table. Calculate averages. Look for patterns in the data and draw a graph to show your findings.
Question: How does a sunflower seedling change as it grows over four weeks?
Why observation over time? Growth happens slowly - you need to observe and record changes over a period of time. You cannot speed up or change the natural process.
Plan: Plant three sunflower seeds (to ensure at least one grows). Take measurements every Monday and Thursday: height in cm, number of leaves, leaf size. Take photographs each time. Record in a dated table.
Question: How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach each planet?
Why secondary sources? You cannot directly measure the speed of light travelling across the solar system! This information has already been collected by space scientists using specialised equipment.
Plan: Use at least three reliable sources (NASA website, science textbooks, encyclopaedias). Cross-check information between sources. Record the data in a table with planet names, distances, and light travel times.
Answer all questions, then check your answers. Your quiz result is saved on this device.
✗ Wrong: "I'll do a fair test to find out if older people are taller."
✓ Right: "I'll use pattern seeking because I can't control people's ages - I need to collect data and look for relationships."
Think carefully about whether you can control variables. If you can't, a fair test won't work!
✗ Wrong: "Pour some water into a cup and see what happens."
✓ Right: "Measure exactly 200ml of water at 80°C using a measuring cylinder and thermometer. Pour into cup A. Record the temperature every 2 minutes for 20 minutes."
Good methods are precise enough that someone else could repeat your investigation exactly.
✗ Wrong: "I'll test each material once and write down my result."
✓ Right: "I'll test each material three times and calculate the mean average to make my results more reliable."
A single measurement might be unusual or contain an error. Repeating and averaging gives more trustworthy results.
✗ Wrong: "I predict the wool will keep the water warmest."
✓ Right: "I predict wool will keep the water warmest because it contains tiny air pockets that trap heat, and air is a good insulator."
A scientific prediction always includes "because" - explain the science behind your thinking!