Activity: What is your strongest science question?

In this activity, students come up with lots of questions and evaluate them using the Scientific Question Criteria to decide which questions are the most practical to investigate.

Students follow the scientific process by asking questions based on close observations, then evaluate the questions against set criteria. They go on to develop hypotheses and plan the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test these.

Key Stage: KS3
Time required: 30 minutes

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About this resource

Resource type: classroom activity
Theme: Working scientifically

Curriculum links
- England
  
  Working Scientifically Skills
  
  Experimental skills and investigations
  
  ask questions and develop a line of enquiry based on observations of the real world, alongside prior knowledge and experience
  
  make predictions using scientific knowledge and understanding
  
  select, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiries to test predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables, where appropriate
  
  Scientific attitudes
  
  pay attention to objectivity and concern for accuracy, precision, repeatability and reproducibility
- Scotland
  
  Third Level Scientific Skills
  
  Inquiry and Investigative Skills:
  
  Plans and designs scientific investigations and enquiries:
  
  Demonstrates initiative and increasing independence in identifying a number of key questions and in formulating aims, predictions and hypotheses based on information, observations and knowledge.
- Northern Ireland
  
  Curriculum Subject Links
  
  Overarching themes of Science, Technology and Design.
  
  Curriculum Skill Links
  
  Listen to and take part in discussions, explanations, role-plays and presentations
  
  Contribute comments, ask questions and respond to others’ points of view
  
  Communicate information, ideas, opinions, feelings and imaginings, using an expanding vocabulary
  
  Planning for investigations, obtaining evidence, presenting and interpreting results
  
  Use investigative skills to explore scientific issues, solve problems and make informed decisions
  
  Show deeper scientific understanding by thinking critically and flexibly, solving problems and making informed decisions, using Mathematics and ICT where appropriate
  
  Work effectively with others