Download Different types of scientific investigation

Different types of scientific investigation
Investigation type
examples
Classifying/identifying
Sorting materials by magnetism or by solid, liquid,
gas
Fair testing
Which paper is the strongest?
Which sugar dissolves the fastest?
Do plants need light to grow?
Pattern seeking
Can the tallest person jump the furthest?
Do dandelions in the shade have longer leaves?
Exploring
Floating and sinking, observing ice
Investigating models
(beyond scope of primary science)
Making things/ developing
systems
Making a wormery, designing a burglar alarm
Suggested proportions of time to be spent on different types of enquiry
at different ages
KS1
age 5-7
KS2
age 7-11
KS3
age 11-14
KS4
age 14-16
Classifying/identifying
40
20
10
10
Fair testing
0
35
50
45
Pattern seeking
0
0
20
15
Exploring
40
30
5
0
Investigating models
0
0
5
20
Making things/ developing
systems
20
15
10
10