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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Thinking Like a Scientist - PowerPoint
A 20-slide teaching presentation to use when introducing your students to the scientific method.
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Experiment Design Sequencing Activity
A worksheet to develop students’ understanding of experiment design.
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Scientific Investigation Process – Posters
Remind your students of the steps to the scientific investigation process with this set of 7 posters.
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Experiment Vocabulary Match-Up Activity
A match-up activity for students to match experimental design terminology with their definitions.
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Solving Global Problems - Design an Invention Workbook
Help your students discover how innovation and invention can solve global problems with an invention project workbook.
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Christmas Science Experiments
Perform Christmas Science Experiments and teach your students about the scientific method with a set of two printable Christmas Science activities.
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My Amazing Invention - Digital Stem Activity
Inspire young scientists to invent amazing things with digital STEM activities for elementary.
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Scientific Investigation Process – PowerPoint
A PowerPoint outlining the scientific investigation process.
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What's the Use? PowerPoint - Developing a Hypothesis to Investigate
A teaching presentation discussing the development of a scientific hypothesis.
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R.E.R.U.N. - Writing a Scientific Conclusion - Poster
An educational poster introducing the students to the R.E.R.U.N. method for writing a scientific conclusion.
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Scientific Method Word Wall Vocabulary
Thirty-nine scientific method vocabulary cards for a word wall.
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The Scientific Method Poster - Lower Grades
A poster outlining five steps of the scientific method for younger students.
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The Scientific Method Poster - Upper Grades
A poster outlining the seven steps of the scientific method.
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Working Scientifically Worksheet
A worksheet used to check the students' knowledge of working scientifically.
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How Does the Environment Affect Plants? Science Experiment
Investigate the effect of the environment on plant life with a no-cut printable science experiment mini-book.
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Making Science Predictions - Worksheet
A worksheet for students to record their science predictions.
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What is a Fair Test? - Middle Years PowerPoint
A 17 slide PowerPoint to use when teaching your students about how to make a fair test in Science.
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What is a Fair Test? - Upper Years PowerPoint
A 20-slide PowerPoint to use when teaching your students about how to make a fair test in Science.
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Now I Understand PowerPoint - Building a Solid Conclusion for an Experiment
An educational teaching presentation introducing the students to the R.E.R.U.N. method for writing a scientific conclusion.
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R.E.R.U.N. - Writing a Scientific Conclusion Fact Sheet
An educational fact sheet introducing the students to the R.E.R.U.N. method for writing a scientific conclusion.
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Freedom of Choice PowerPoint - Developing Scientific Lines of Questioning
A teaching presentation discussing the development of scientific lines of questioning.
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Initiating a Scientific Investigation Worksheet
A worksheet to help the students begin the process of a scientific investigation.
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Design a Fair Test Worksheet – Upper Grades
A worksheet to use when developing the concept of a fair test.
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Design a Fair Test Worksheet - Middle Years
A worksheet to use when developing the concept of a fair test in a science investigation.
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Design Your Own Experiment Worksheet
A set of worksheets to develop students' ability to design fair, scientific experiments.
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What is a Fair Test? (Upper Years)
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What is a Fair Test? (Middle Years)
Fun Sound Experiments for Kids to Add to Your Sound Energy Lessons
These sound experiments for kids offer hands-on learning for elementary schoolers to learn about sound waves, pitch, and more!