Investigating in science resources

Task: Identify the variables for testing how fresh water and salt water affect rusting. Assessment focus: planning a fair test.

Students indicate for each of six different variables those that need to be kept the same for an investigation about dissolving different types of sugar.

Students use a table of information on melting points and boiling points of six different substances to answer questions about states of matter.

The liquid range for four common substances has been provided. Students use this to answer questions about melting point, boiling point, and state.

This practical assessment requires students to design and carry out tests on three properties of four different fabrics in order to find the most suitable fabric for the stated purpose.

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 look at two diagrams. The first shows iron nails in test tubes with boiled water or tap water, the second shows iron nails with moisture either present or absent. Students answer five questions about these investigations.

Students evaluate a fair test about whether salt or sugar solution dissolves faster.

Select the correct pair to set up a fair test. Assessment focus: controlling variables.

Task: Students fill in a chart to select the best material for making 6 objects, and give reasons for their answers. Assessment focus: properties of materials related to use.

Students are given an outline of an investigation on heat loss from two different shaped objects (a cube and a sphere). They answer questions on variable control, repeat trialling, and they then graph data from this investigation.

Students are given an outline of an investigation on metal corrosion and a graph of some results. Students' ability to interpret the graph and knowledge of fair testing is assessed via short answer questions.

Students identify which substances undergo a permanent change when they are mixed together.

Students interpret a table of data in order to answer four questions on the properties of five different types of paper.

Students decide on the variables that will make an experiment about boiling water a fair test. Assessment focus: Recognising multiple variables.

Students explain how two armoured reptiles' adaptations protect them from being eaten by predators.

Students answer one question about diet given the type of beak that birds have. Students are also asked about how scientists might investigate information about moa.

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.

For this practical students are required to investigate how the use of pulleys affects the effort force needed to raise a load. Students gather results, write a conclusion, and describe two situations in which a pulley system would be useful.

Students first do the science activity Throwing Balloons 2 (PW2548) where they predict, observe, and explain what will happen when a balloon containing another balloon filled with water is thrown. Then the students do this writing task where they describe the balloon and what happened when it was thrown, and explain why they think it moved the way it did. Six annotated exemplars of student scripts (writing) are included under the "Working with Students" tab.

Students construct three different sized parachutes from plastic bags. They then carry out a fair test to see which sized parachute is the most effective. Students answer questions about fair tests, collect and record their results, and make a conclusion.