Scientific Method Teaching Resources
Teach the scientific method in your science classes this school year with printable worksheets, classroom science posters and more teacher-created resources made for elementary science teachers.
Explore the 7 steps of the scientific method, teach students how to form a hypothesis and draw conclusions as they start to think like scientists in the classroom!
New to teaching this section of the science curriculum, or just looking for some tips on engaging your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at the different steps of the scientific method and ways to explain the concept to your students.
What Is the Scientific Method? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Let's start with a student-friendly way to explain the method and why we discuss it in science class.
The scientific method is a process that scientists all around the world use hen they're conducting experiments and investigations. The method helps them to answer questions and solve problems.
But you don't have to be a scientist working on a major project to get the benefits of applying the method!
In science class, students might use the scientific method to explore the properties of different materials or to investigate the behavior of living organisms. Kids can also apply the method in math class, gathering data and analyzing patterns or designing experiments to test hypotheses.
What Are the Steps of the Scientific Method?
So how does the scientific method work? It's broken down into a series of steps that make it easy to follow.
- Ask a Question — At the start, scientists or student scientists ask a question about a topic they are interested in. For example, they may ask if plants grow better with more or less water.
- Research — Next, you conduct research to learn more about your question. This could involve reading books, watching videos or even talking to experts in the field.
- Form a Hypothesis — This is a new vocabulary term for most students. A hypothesis is another word for an "educated guess" that students make about what they think the answer to their question might be. They should use their research to inform this guess. In the example of the question of whether or not plants grow better with more or less after, a student may hypothesize that plants will grow better with more water.
- Test the Hypothesis — In the next step, students design and conduct an experiment to test their hypothesis. They will manipulate one or more variables and observe what happens. In this step, students should collect data and learn about "control groups," "independent variables," and "dependent variables."
- Analyze the Data — Once they've tested their hypothesis, it's time for your young scientists to look at the data they collected and organize it in a way that helps them draw conclusions. It may help to have your students make graphs or charts to make it easier to analyze the data.
- Draw Conclusions — Based on their analysis, it's time for students to draw conclusions about whether their hypothesis was correct or not. In this step, students should be making "inferences" and "predictions."
- Communicate Results — In the final step of the method, students share their findings with others, such as their classmates or you. This is also the step where students write "conclusions" and "abstracts."
Who Created the Scientific Method?
Are you looking for some background information to engage your students on this core concept of science?
Introduce them to the mystery behind just who created the scientific method! There are a variety of famous men who have been credited with making this world-renowned process of investigation from Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei to British philosopher Sir Francis Bacon. Others say an Arabic physicist named Ibn al-Haytham should get more credit for his role in giving us a way to systematically go about forming a hypothesis and testing it.
So what's the answer?
Why not challenge your students to do a little ... investigation?
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I See, I Think, I Wonder - Science Inquiry PowerPoint
Teach students to ask scientific questions, make observations, and inspire discussions with this ‘I See, I Think, I Wonder’ Science Inquiry PowerPoint.
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R.E.R.U.N. - Writing a Scientific Conclusion Anchor Charts
Introduce your students to the R.E.R.U.N. method for writing a scientific conclusion with a printable poster and fact sheet.
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Science Experiment Recording Sheet
A recording sheet to use when completing a Science experiment.
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Starting a Scientific Investigation Worksheet
Help students begin the process of a scientific investigation with an introduction to the scientific method activity sheet.
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Scientific Method - Scientist Poster Pack (K-1)
Help your little learners understand the scientific method with a set of ‘What Do Scientists Do? Kindergarten Science Posters.
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Scientific Method Crossword Puzzle
Use a Scientific Method crossword puzzle to review key vocabulary words surrounding science inquiry.
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Scientific Method Worksheet - Vocabulary Match
Use a Scientific Method Worksheet to review key science experiment vocabulary words.
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Scientific Method Word Wall Vocabulary
Introduce your students to vocabulary surrounding the Scientific Method with a printable science word wall.
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Inquiry Project - Template
A diverse template to help students craft inquiry questions to produce different types of research projects.
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Identify the Fair Test Worksheet Pack
Identify examples and non-examples of fair scientific tests with our Identify The Fair Test Worksheet Pack.
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Analyzing Fair Tests Activity Sheets (5-6)
Download these Analyzing Fair Tests Activity Sheets to help your students practice identifying dependent and independent variables and making experimental predictions.
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Ordering Steps in a Scientific Process Worksheet Pack
Help your 3rd-5th-grade students strengthen their understanding of the science investigation process with this set of cut-and-paste sequencing worksheets.
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Scientific Prediction & Observation Templates (K-2)
Introduce your early learners to scientific inquiry skills with a set of printable Scientific Observation templates.
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Scientific Method Digital Learning Activity
Help your students understand the steps in the scientific process with an engaging Scientific Method Digital Learning Notebook activity.
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Making Scientific Observations Worksheets
Use this set of two worksheets to help your students record their own observations during science experiments and projects.
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Scientific Method Cloze Worksheet
Review scientific method vocabulary with a printable Scientific Method Cloze Worksheet.
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Design a Fair Test - Differentiated Experimental Design Worksheets
Use a differentiated experimental design worksheet to introduce your students to the concept of fair testing in science.
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Process Skills for Science Worksheet Pack
Improve your students' skills for science class with printable Scientific Process Skills Worksheets.
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Scientific Method Experiment Observation Templates
Record scientific observations and results with a variety of Scientific Method Experiment Observation Templates.
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Science Lab Report Template
Use a Science Lab Report Template to help your students organize their findings in any scientific method lab experiment.
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The Scientific Method Poster - Lower Grades
Teach the five steps of the scientific method to younger students with a Scientific Method Poster.
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Innovate and Invent! Science Word Search
Build your students’ vocabulary around the topics of innovation and invention with a word search worksheet.
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Build a Scientific Data Table Worksheets
Improve scientific data collection skills with printable Construct A Data Table Worksheets.
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Identifying Variables and Constants Worksheets
Identify components of science investigations with our Identifying Variables and Constants Worksheets.
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Making Scientific Statements Worksheets
Practice writing complete scientific predictions with a pair of printable ‘Making Scientific Statements’ worksheets.
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Planning a Fair Test Graphic Organizers
Plan and implement fair scientific tests in the classroom with printable Planning a Fair Test Graphic Organizers.
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Asking Testable Questions Activity Cards
Boost science inquiry skills and teach students how to ask scientific questions with an engaging Asking Investigable Questions Activity Pack.
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Make It A Fair Test Worksheets
Download a group of four Fair Test Worksheets to help your students identify and correct unfair scientific tests.
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Time-Lapse Observation Charts for Science Inquiry
Track scientific changes over time with a set of printable Time Lapse Observation Charts.
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Science Observation Table Templates
Plan, observe, and record scientific observations and data with printable Science Observation Templates for upper elementary and middle school students.
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Science Question of the Day Discussion Prompts
Teach your students to ask questions, observe the world, and make scientific predictions with our Science Question of the Day Discussion Prompt Slide Deck.
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'Is It An Investigable Question?’ Sorting Activity
Help students determine examples of investigable science questions with our ‘Is It An Investigable Question’ sorting activity.