1.2 How science works – Practical and enquiry skills
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click1.2a Using investigative approaches: planning an approach |
| recognise characteristics of a question that can be answered scientifically, e.g. identify questions that don’t depend on opinions | compare alternative approaches to answer a scientific question and identify different ways to answer the question, e.g. 'how do metals oxidise?'
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| decide on appropriate observations or measurements for an investigation, e.g. agree how often to measure temperature and appearance of a material whose change of state is being investigated | consider what is already known before planning the investigation, e.g. highlight key pieces of information from a small range provided
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| recognise the role of different approaches to the gathering of data in answering questions, e.g. explore the advantages and disadvantages of using surveys, fair tests, extended observations, ‘pattern seeking’ (for living things where it is less easy to control all variables), research and reference, classification, testing someone else’s ideas | make sensible decisions about the choice of apparatus to produce useful data, e.g. whether to use a lung bag, peak-flow meter or displacement of water to measure the volume of a person’s lungs |
| recognise that not all questions can be answered by a fair test, e.g. identify that not all variables can be controlled in investigations involving living organisms | |
