Introduce the fundamentals of the scientific method to your students with our free printable science experiment recording worksheet! Tailored for elementary-age children, this resource is versatile enough for learners of any age.
Science Experiment Recording Worksheet
Explore the contents of your downloadable worksheet:
How To Use These Experiment Recording Sheets With Your Students
When using these recording sheets for the first time, guide students through the process with the following tips.
Question
Young scientists must first identify the specific aspect they are testing. The question should be precise and answerable through a controlled experiment with measurable outcomes. Typically, these questions begin with phrases like “How does …” or “What is the effect of …”
Strong question: “What is the effect of watering bean seeds with salt water?”
Weak question: “Is salt water bad for plants?”
Variables
Experiments involve two types of variables:
- Independent variables are the elements you’ll modify in your experiment. For the bean plant example, different types of water (fresh water, salt water, etc.) would be the independent variables.
- Dependent variables are the measurements you record as results. In this scenario, that could include plant height, leaf color, or other indicators of plant health.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis represents the expected outcome. It should be an educated guess based on prior knowledge of the topic rather than a random guess. A hypothesis is often formulated as an if/then statement: “If we water bean seeds with salt water, the seed will not sprout.” (Encourage students to remember that it’s fine if their hypothesis is proven incorrect!)
Observations
Effective observations are specific and quantifiable. It’s crucial to be objective and record what actually occurs, rather than what one hopes will occur. The more detailed notes taken during the experiment, the better equipped students will be to articulate their conclusions.
Example: “After 3 days of watering a bean seed with salt water, it began to sprout. By day 5, the leaves unfolded. On day 6, the leaves turned yellow, and by day 7, they had fallen off. By day 10, the stem had withered and the plant appeared dead. Conversely, the bean seed watered with fresh water sprouted on day 3, grew leaves on day 5, and reached a height of 4 inches above the soil by day 10.”
Conclusion
Finally, students will utilize the notes from their observations to form a conclusion. This conclusion should indicate whether the hypothesis was validated or refuted and attempt to provide an explanation. However, students should refrain from speculation and focus solely on the data collected during the experiment.
Example: “Salt water did not prevent the bean seed from sprouting. However, the seed subsequently lost its leaves and the stem died back. The seed itself turned black and mushy. We conclude that while salt water does not inhibit sprouting, it does not promote healthy growth over time.”
Once students grasp how to fill out the various sections of the recording sheet, they can apply it to any science experiment!
Grab Your Free Experiment Recording Sheets to Help Your Class Master the Scientific Method!
Download your free printable today! Click the button, fill out the form with your email address, and your download will be available instantly!
Looking for ways to use this science experiment recording worksheet? Check out these Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have On Hand!
