Student Name: ...................................
Primary School
Class / Section: Grade 5 (A, B, C, D) Subject : Science Investigation guide
Date: ....... /......./...........
Part 1
When we do an experiment, we change and measure things called variables.
Type of Variable What It Means Example
Independent Variable The thing we change on The amount of sunlight a plant
purpose. gets.
Dependent Variable The thing we measure or How tall the plant grows.
observe.
Control Variables The things we keep the same Type of soil, amount of water,
to make it a fair test. size of pot.
Remember:
A fair test means we change only one variable at a time!
Part 2 – Recording Results and Describing Patterns
Recording Results:
● Use a table to organize your data clearly.
● Draw two columns:
1. Left column for the independent variable (the thing you changed).
2. Right column for the dependent variable (the thing you measured).
● Write a heading for each column and include units if needed (for example, °C, cm, or
seconds).
● Record results neatly and in the same order you carried out the experiment.
Describing Patterns:
● Look for trends or relationships in your results.
● Describe what happens as the independent variable changes.
● Use phrases such as:
○ “As the temperature increases, the time decreases.”
○ “The plant grew taller when it received more sunlight.”
● Avoid just listing numbers — explain what they show!
Tip: Use your graph to help you see and describe patterns clearly.
Part 3
Graphs help us to see patterns and relationships in our results.
Type of Graph When to Use It Example
Line Graph Use when you want to show how Question 4 on pages 26–27 and
one thing changes as another Question 4 on pages 31–32 of the
changes. workbook
Bar graph Use when you want to compare Question 4 on pages 4–5 and
different groups or categories. Question 2 on pages 24–25 of the
workbook
Scatter graph Use when you want to see if two activity (scatter) answer key
variables are related.
Part 4 - Graph Drawing
Line Graph
1. Draw two axes: x-axis for the independent variable and y-axis for the dependent variable.
2. Label both axes with names and units.
3. Mark a clear, even scale on each axis.
4. Plot your data points on the graph.
5. Join the points with straight lines to show how the values change.
Bar Graph
1. Draw two straight lines: the x-axis (across) and the y-axis (up).
2. Label the x-axis with the categories.
3. Label the y-axis with what you are measuring.
4. Choose a suitable scale for the y-axis (for example, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
5. Draw bars for each category — make sure they are equal in width and have even spaces
between them.
Tip: Each bar represents one group or condition, not time.
Scatter Graph
1. Draw two axes: horizontal (x-axis) and vertical (y-axis).
2. Label each axis with the variable name and units.
○ X-axis: one property (e.g., heat conductivity)
○ Y-axis: the other property (e.g., electrical conductivity)
3. Choose a suitable scale for each axis so all data fits.
4. Plot each pair of results as a single dot. Do not join the dots.
5. Look for a pattern:
○ Dots going up together → positive relationship
○ One goes up while the other goes down → negative relationship
Part 5
Fair Test, Accuracy, and Reliability
Fair Test: A fair test means we only change one variable at a time and keep everything else the
same. This ensures our results are fair and not affected by other changes.
Accuracy: An accurate result is one that is close to the true value. To improve accuracy, measure
carefully and use suitable equipment.
Reliability: Reliable results are those that are consistent when repeated. To check reliability,
repeat the experiment several times and look for similar results.