Investigating in science resources

Students label six diagrams as an element, compound, or mixture.

Using provided information students answer three multiple-choice questions about numbers of atoms, elements, molecules and compounds.

Task: Predict whether given objects will float, investigate, then record and explain results. Assessment focus: flotation.

Students compare drawings of a healthy and unhealthy plant and decide which quantitative and/or qualitative data distinguishes them. They draw conclusions from the data. This is a mathematics/science resource.

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

Task: Describe what happens to ice in a glass of water, giving reasons, and explain where water forming on the outside of the glass comes from. Assessment focus: changes of state.

Students draw a line from each of six invertebrate animals to its correct description. They are also required to name each animal.

Task: Decide which of two graphs e.g., tally chart, pictograph, bar graph is represented by a picture and explain how the graph/s are interpreted.

Task: Students make predictions about evaporation rates of instances where surface areas are a factor, select which variable is being investigated in both examples and explain their answer. Assessment focus: Using knowledge of surface area to make predictions.

This practical task requires students to follow instructions for making a 'green fridge' to determine its efficiency. Students collect and record data from their investigation and answer questions.

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: Use information about differences between moths and butterflies to decide which category examples belong to, and identify what evidence was used. Assessment focus: observation, using evidence.

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

Task: students investigate the rolling distance of marbles on different surfaces. Assessment focus: processing information to answer a question.

Explain what affects the distance travelled by toy cars, and why they eventually stop. Assessment focus: science explanations using ideas about forces and energy.

Task: use features to group small animals, identify differences between 3 animals, and identify the insects. Assessment focus: using features to group small animals.

Task: Use understandings about heat energy and insulation to describe how adaptations help Emperor penguins survive in Antarctica. Assessment focus: adaptations for keeping warm in cold conditions.

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

Students identify the variables to be kept constant, and the variable to be different, when they plan a fair test to show if green plants need light to grow.

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

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.

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.

For this task students are provided with photographs of four different types of weta. Students are asked to give two features that weta have in common with each other and to give two features that show weta belong to the group insects.

This practical task requires students to use methods of separation to separate a mixture of salt, sand, and iron filings. Students explain how they did this and the property of the substance that they used.

Students compare drawings of a healthy and unhealthy plant, collect data, and decide which data distinguishes them. This is a mathematics/science resource.