Grade 4 Science: Scientific Investigation and Fair Testing
Free Grade 4 Science unit on Scientific Investigation and Fair Testing: 10 lessons in order. Includes practice questions and answer keys.
10 lessons in this unit
Scientific questions
Learn to tell testable scientific questions from questions that cannot be tested, and to turn a curious idea into a question an investigation can answer.
Lesson 2Testable predictions
Learn to make a prediction that says what you think will happen and why, and to judge whether a prediction can be checked by an investigation.
Lesson 3Planning investigations
Learn to plan a simple investigation step by step: question, prediction, equipment, safe method, what to record and how often to repeat.
Lesson 4Identifying variables
Learn to name the three kinds of variable in an investigation: the one we change, the one we measure and the ones we keep the same.
Lesson 5Fair testing
Learn how to carry out a fair test by changing one variable, measuring one result, controlling the rest and repeating, and how to spot an unfair test.
Lesson 6Measuring accurately
Learn to choose the right measuring tool, read scales carefully in the correct units and reduce errors by measuring at eye level and repeating.
Lesson 7Recording results
Learn to record observations and measurements in an organised results table with clear headings, units and repeats, and to avoid common recording mistakes.
Lesson 8Tables and graphs
Learn to turn table data into bar graphs and simple line graphs, label axes with units, choose a sensible scale and read patterns from the picture.
Lesson 9Interpreting evidence
Learn to use results to answer the investigation question, decide whether the prediction was supported and explain a conclusion using numbers and science ideas.
Lesson 10Evaluating investigations
Learn to judge how well an investigation was done, spot sources of error, say how reliable the results are and suggest specific improvements and next questions.