Scientific Method Teaching Resources
Teach the scientific method in your science classes this school year with printable worksheets, classroom science posters and more teacher-created resources made for Australian teachers.
Get students thinking like a scientist as they learn to form a hypothesis, manipulate variables and draw conclusions with curriculum-aligned resources that walk students through each step of the method.
New to teaching this section of the science curriculum, or just looking for some tips on engaging your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at the different steps of the scientific method and ways to explain the concept to your students.
What Is the Scientific Method? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Let's start with a student-friendly way to explain the method and why we discuss it in science class.
The scientific method is a process that scientists all around the world use when they're conducting experiments and investigations. The method helps them to answer questions and solve problems.
But you don't have to be a scientist working on a major project to get the benefits of applying the method!
In science class, students might use the scientific method to explore the properties of different materials or to investigate the behaviour of living organisms. Kids can also apply the method in maths class, gathering data and analysing patterns or designing experiments to test hypotheses.
What Are the Steps of the Scientific Method?
So how does the scientific method work? It's broken down into a series of steps that make it easy to follow.
- Ask a Question — At the start, scientists or student scientists ask a question about a topic they are interested in. For example, they may ask if plants grow better with more or less water.
- Research — Next, you conduct research to learn more about your question. This could involve reading books, watching videos or even talking to experts in the field.
- Form a Hypothesis — This is a new vocabulary term for most students. A hypothesis is another word for an 'educated guess' that students make about what they think the answer to their question might be. They should use their research to inform this guess. In the example of the question of whether or not plants grow better with more or less after, a student may hypothesise that plants will grow better with more water.
- Test the Hypothesis — In the next step, students design and conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis. They will manipulate one or more variables and observe what happens. In this step, students should collect data and learn about 'control groups,' 'independent variables,' and 'dependent variables.'
- Analyse the Data — It's time to look at data that has been collected and organise it in a way that makes it possible to draw conclusions. At this point in the method, it might help to have your students make graphs or charts to help them analyse the data.
- Draw Conclusions — Based on their analysis, it's time for students to draw conclusions about whether their hypothesis was correct or not. In this step, students should be making 'inferences' and 'predictions.'
- Communicate Results — In the final step of the method, students share their findings with others, such as their classmates or you! This is also the step where students write 'conclusions.'
Who Created the Scientific Method?
Are you looking for some background information to engage your students on this core concept of science?
Introduce them to the mystery behind just who created the scientific method! There are a variety of famous men who have been credited with making this world-renowned process of investigation, from Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei to British philosopher Sir Francis Bacon. Others say an Arabic physicist named Ibn al-Haytham should get more credit for his role in giving us a way to systematically go about forming a hypothesis and testing it.
So what's the answer?
Why not challenge your students to do a little ... investigation?
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Changes I Can See Worksheet Pack (Differentiated)
Explore physical changes and scientific predictions with a set of Changes I Can See Worksheets for Years 1-3.
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Exploring the 5 Senses PowerPoint
Explore the five senses, how we use them, and more with an engaging 5 Senses PowerPoint Presentation.
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Analysing Fair Tests Activity Sheets (5-6)
Download these Analysing Fair Tests Activity Sheets to help your students practice identifying dependent and independent variables and making experimental predictions.
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What Happens Next? Predicting Outcomes Activity Cards
Introduce your students to scientific thinking and predicting steps in a sequence with printable Predicting Outcomes Activity Cards.
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Make It A Fair Test Worksheets
Download a group of four Fair Test Worksheets to help your students identify and correct unfair scientific tests.
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Scientific Method Flipbook Template
Create a Scientific Method Flipbook to record scientific predictions, observations, and conclusions with a printable science flip book template.
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Making Scientific Observations Worksheets
Use this set of two worksheets to help your students record their own scientific observations during science experiments and projects.
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Scientific Method Cloze Worksheet
Review scientific method vocabulary with a printable Scientific Method Cloze Worksheet.
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Building a Scientific Conclusion - Teaching Slides
Teach your students the R.E.R.U.N. method for writing a scientific conclusion with an interactive teaching slide deck.
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Scientific Method Worksheet - Match the Definition
Use a Scientific Method Worksheet to review key science experiment vocabulary words.
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R.E.R.U.N. - Writing a Scientific Conclusion Anchor Charts
Introduce your students to the R.E.R.U.N. method for writing a scientific conclusion with a printable poster and fact sheet.
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Inquiry Project - Template
A diverse template to help students craft inquiry questions to produce different types of projects.
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Sensory Chart Graphic Organiser
Observe and record observations of the world around you with a printable Sensory Chart Graphic Organiser.
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Designing a Science Experiment Task Cards
Help your students plan their own scientific method experiments with a set of printable Scientific Method Experiment Design Task Cards.
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Scientific Observation Graphic Organisers
Record and organise scientific data with printable Scientific Observation Graphic Organisers for kids
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Working Scientifically - Skills for Science Inquiry Worksheet Pack
Improve your students' skills for science class with printable Scientific Inquiry Skills Worksheets.
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'Is It An Investigable Question?’ Sorting Activity
Help students determine examples of investigable science questions with our ‘Is It An Investigable Question’ sorting activity.
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How to Write a Hypothesis Worksheet
Teach your students to write a hypothesis with a printable writing guide and a hypothesis-writing practice worksheet.
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Scientific Hypothesis Writing Checklist
Use a Scientific Hypothesis Writing Checklist to help your students write clear and complete scientific hypotheses.
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Build a Scientific Data Table Worksheets
Improve scientific data collection skills with printable Construct A Data Table Worksheets.
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Making Scientific Statements Worksheets
Practise writing complete scientific predictions with a pair of printable ‘Making Scientific Statements’ worksheets.
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Ordering Steps in a Scientific Process Worksheet Pack
Help your Year 3 students strengthen their understanding of the science investigation process with an Ordering Steps in a Scientific Process Worksheet Pack.
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Scientific Method Digital Learning Activity
Help your students understand the steps in the scientific process with an engaging Scientific Method Digital Learning Notebook activity.
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Scientific Investigation Scenarios - Sorting Activity
Analyse scientific investigation scenarios to determine which stage in the scientific method is being described with a printable Scientific Method Sorting Activity.
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Scientific Investigation Skills Worksheet
Help students begin the process of a scientific investigation with an introduction to the scientific method activity sheet.
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Differentiated Scientific Method Doodle Notes Templates
Use scientific method doodle notes to turn learning the scientific method into a meaningful note-taking session for students!
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Thinking Like a Scientist - Scientific Method PPT
Introduce your students to the scientific process with an interactive Scientific Method PPT.
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Scientific Method Chart Pack (F-2)
Teach the scientific method with a printable ‘What Do Scientists Do?’ Scientific Method Chart Pack for Early Years.
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Scientific Investigation Process – Workbook
Print a Scientific Investigation Process Workbook to help your students learn and practice the steps in the scientific method.
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STEM Learning Journal - Experiment Notebook
Use this STEM Learning journal to organize data and learning with your students when completing STEM and STEAM activities.
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The Scientific Method Poster - Lower Years
Teach the five steps of the scientific method to younger students with a Scientific Method Poster.
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Predict and Prove – Template
A template to help introduce making a hypothesis before starting an investigation.