Investigating in science resources

Using the principles of fair testing, students identify four factors that could affect the time it takes for electric jugs to boil water.

This whole investigation requires students to find out how spring stretch is affected by different masses pulling on it. There is also a section for planning a similar investigation and a processing section using some provided data.

This practical task requires students to plan, process, and evaluate an investigation on types of fruit and the voltage that each can produce.

Students are provided with information and data on different makes of soccer balls. Students answer questions on fair testing, and write conclusions from the given data.

Task: Answer two questions about setting up a fair test and another about insulating houses. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

Task: Answer questions about data in a table. Assessment focus: pulleys.

Students answer five questions interpreting data on temperature decrease in three different types of cups.

Task: students, in small groups, discuss a concept cartoon about rolling cans, before making a prediction about which will roll further. Assessment focus: making predictions about friction.

For this practical task students investigate the magnetic fields that exist around a horseshoe magnet. Students then use two bar magnets to investigate what happens when similar and unlike poles are facing each other.

This practical task requires students to use a plastic comb and wool to generate static electricity. Students investigate different materials to find those that are attracted to the static charge.

Task: Plan a fair test to see which of two solar showers of different colours heats up more. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

Students carry out and make observations about water in a straw, and suction. Students are then required to explain their observations.

Decide if a described investigation is a fair test, and explain the decision. Assessment focus: identifying fair testing.

This practical task requires students to use a simple star map to point out the apparent location of stars or star groups during daylight hours. Students also use the star map to show where the Southern Cross would be situated at different times of an evening.

Students plot the positions for three different stars at three different times during the evening. Students use this information to answer questions about star movement around the South Celestial Pole.

Task: Investigate the length of shadows in relationship to the sun's position. Assessment focus: interpreting a model.

Task: Use a diagram to answer questions about seasons and day and night. Assessment focus: relationship of Sun and Earth.

Students are asked to explain why the Southern Cross appears not to be in the same place in the night sky that it was a few months previously.

Students use the Modified Mercalli intensity scale to assign magnitudes to three described earthquakes. Then they interpret data about the distance from an epicentre, and explain why, from given information, one earthquake might be more damaging than another.

Students are provided with a diagram showing layers of rock and three possible results of changes that could occur. Words and phrases are provided to help students answer several short answer questions about the possible cause of the changes.

This task requires students to develop questions about their local geology and name possible information sources.

This practical task requires students to make observations of three different types of soils and record their observations in a chart.

This practical task requires students to describe to a partner their observations about an ice cube melting. Students then develop questions about what they observe.

This practical task requires students to make observations of the changes that occur in five common foods as they are cooked.

For this practical task students follow a plan to determine the best temperature for the reaction of rennet with milk. Students need to make observations and write a report on their findings.