Investigating in science resources

Drawings of four different seeds are provided. Students explain how each seed is dispersed.

Students give two reasons why it is an advantage for a porcupine fish to inflate its body and have its spines stick out when it is in danger.

Task: Complete chart to show how birds' feet and beaks are suitably adapted for their particular food and environment. Assessment focus: inference.

Task: Students use an image of an Australian lizard to explain what purpose is served by the lizard's tail looking like its head. Assessment focus: features for survival.

Students use pictures of different types of parakeets to identify distinguishing features. NOTE: This resource needs to be used in colour.

Students are provided with pictures of birds and fish and then asked to describe how fish and birds look different and how they look similar.

For this practical task students are provided with four types of plant storage organs. They classify examples as one of these types of food storage organ. Students also look at the tap root and a tuber and describe the main differences between them.

Students are provided with six drawings of different types of insects. They use the drawings to explain two features of insects and to explain differences between the insects illustrated.

Task: Order fruit according to size and number of seeds, make a generalisation about the pattern and use this to predict whether a fig has small or large seeds. Assessment focus: pattern seeking.

Task: Make careful observations of a picture to decide what you can see and what you might know but can't see.

For this practical task students write a plan to find out if a microwave has a 'hot spot'. Students carry out their plan, collect, and interpret results.

This practical task is about heat absorption. From a given list students choose the equipment they would use to heat cold tap water as much as possible. Students complete the investigation, explain why each piece of equipment was selected, and record their results.

Task: Interpret data from tables. Assessment focus: data interpretation.

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

Task: Answer questions about the relationship between mass and stretch. Assessment focus: graph interpretation.

Task: Answer questions about relationships between mass and stretch. Assessment focus: identifying patterns in data.

Task: investigate reflection of light using a torch and mirror. Assessment focus: angle of reflection.

For this practical task students investigate some features of craters, complete a table, and explain what they found out. Students then use a diagram showing some craters on the Moon to write as much information as they can about these craters.

This practical task assesses students' ability to design and carry out a fair test on the relationship between slope and rates of erosion.

This resource assesses students' understanding of erosion. Students order a set of diagrams showing the process of erosion in a river and write an explanation of how cliff erosion occurs by the sea.

For this task students explain the causes to the difference in height of water levels in a lake during spring, summer, and winter.

This task requires students to determine the best way to dissolve Milo the quickest. Students are given the opportunity to determine this by trial and error, then they are asked to write up their result and a conclusion.

For this practical task students determine the viscosity of different household susbstances such as golden syrup, cooking oil, fruit juice etc. Students complete the experiment and construct a chart showing their results and observations.

This practical task has students investigate the surface area of three objects and whether this influences the rate of evaporation. Students fill in a table, and calculate the water loss and answer questions to show their understanding.

Students answer short questions to demonstrate their understanding that candles need oxygen to burn.