hypothesis definition ks2

What is a hypothesis?

No.  A hypothesis is sometimes described as an educated guess.  That's not the same thing as a guess and not really a good description of a hypothesis either.  Let's try working through an example.

If you put an ice cube on a plate and place it on the table, what will happen?  A very young child might guess that it will still be there in a couple of hours.  Most people would agree with the hypothesis that:

An ice cube will melt in less than 30 minutes.

You could put sit and watch the ice cube melt and think you've proved a hypothesis.  But you will have missed some important steps.

For a good science fair project you need to do quite a bit of research before any experimenting.  Start by finding some information about how and why water melts.  You could read a book, do a bit of Google searching, or even ask an expert.  For our example, you could learn about how temperature and air pressure can change the state of water.  Don't forget that elevation above sea level changes air pressure too.

Now, using all your research, try to restate that hypothesis.

An ice cube will melt in less than 30 minutes in a room at sea level with a temperature of 20C or 68F.

But wait a minute.  What is the ice made from?  What if the ice cube was made from salt water, or you sprinkled salt on a regular ice cube?  Time for some more research.  Would adding salt make a difference?  Turns out it does.  Would other chemicals change the melting time?

Using this new information, let's try that hypothesis again.

An ice cube made with tap water will melt in less than 30 minutes in a room at sea level with a temperature of 20C or 68F.

Does that seem like an educated guess?  No, it sounds like you are stating the obvious.

At this point, it is obvious only because of your research.  You haven't actually done the experiment.  Now it's time to run the experiment to support the hypothesis.

A hypothesis isn't an educated guess.  It is a tentative explanation for an observation, phenomenon, or scientific problem that can be tested by further investigation.

Once you do the experiment and find out if it supports the hypothesis, it becomes part of scientific theory.

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What is a Hypothesis? - Simple Explanation for Kids

Learn about what a hypothesis is with this easy-to-understand explanation tailored for children. Discover how scientists make guesses to understand the world better.

Alright kiddo, imagine we are detectives, and we want to solve a mystery about the world around us. A hypothesis is like a special guess that detectives (or in this case, scientists) make to find out why something happens.

Let's say you wonder why plants grow. You might guess, 'I think plants grow because they get water.' That's your hypothesis! It's your best idea right now for why plants grow.

But hold on! Having a hypothesis isn't the end. We need to test it to see if it's true. So, you could water some plants and see if they grow. If they do, your guess was right. If they don't, you need a new hypothesis.

A hypothesis isn't always right, and that's okay! It's like trying different keys to open a treasure chest. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right one, and each try teaches you something new.

So, a hypothesis is a smart guess we make to help solve a mystery about our world by testing it out. And guess what? Even grown-up scientists do this, just like you. Cool, right?

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Hypothesis facts for kids

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for some event or problem.

Cardinal Bellarmine gave a well known example of the older sense of the word in his warning to Galileo in the early 17th century: that he must not treat the motion of the Earth as a reality, but merely as a hypothesis.

Today, a hypothesis refers to an idea that needs to be tested . A hypothesis needs more work by the researcher in order to check it. A tested hypothesis that works, may become part of a theory or become a theory itself. The testing should be an attempt to prove the hypothesis is wrong. That is, there should be a way to falsify the hypothesis, at least in principle.

People often call a hypothesis an "educated guess".

Experimenters may test and reject several hypotheses before solving the problem.

A 'working hypothesis' is just a rough kind of hypothesis that is provisionally accepted as a basis for further research. The hope is that a theory will be produced, even if the hypothesis ultimately fails.

Hypotheses are especially important in science. Several philosophers have said that without hypotheses there could be no science. In recent years, philosophers of science have tried to integrate the various approaches to testing hypotheses, and the scientific method in general, to form a more complete system. The point is that hypotheses are suggested ideas which are then tested by experiments or observations .

In statistics , people talk about correlation : correlation is how closely related two events or phenomena are. A proposition (or hypothesis) that two events are related cannot be tested in the same way as a law of nature is tested. An example would be to see if some drug is effective to treat a given medical condition. Even if there is a strong correlation that indicates that this is the case, some samples would still not fit the hypothesis.

There are two hypotheses in statistical tests, called the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis states that there is no link between the phenomena. The alternative hypothesis states that there is some kind of link. The alternative hypothesis may take several forms. It can be two-sided (for example: there is some effect, in a yet unknown direction) or one-sided (the direction of the supposed relation, positive or negative, is fixed in advance).

Related pages

• Falsifiability
• Thought experiment
• This page was last modified on 16 October 2023, at 16:53. Suggest an edit .

What is a scientific hypothesis?

It's the initial building block in the scientific method.

Hypothesis basics

What makes a hypothesis testable.

• Types of hypotheses
• Hypothesis versus theory

Additional resources

Bibliography.

A scientific hypothesis is a tentative, testable explanation for a phenomenon in the natural world. It's the initial building block in the scientific method . Many describe it as an "educated guess" based on prior knowledge and observation. While this is true, a hypothesis is more informed than a guess. While an "educated guess" suggests a random prediction based on a person's expertise, developing a hypothesis requires active observation and background research. 

The basic idea of a hypothesis is that there is no predetermined outcome. For a solution to be termed a scientific hypothesis, it has to be an idea that can be supported or refuted through carefully crafted experimentation or observation. This concept, called falsifiability and testability, was advanced in the mid-20th century by Austrian-British philosopher Karl Popper in his famous book "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" (Routledge, 1959).

A key function of a hypothesis is to derive predictions about the results of future experiments and then perform those experiments to see whether they support the predictions.

A hypothesis is usually written in the form of an if-then statement, which gives a possibility (if) and explains what may happen because of the possibility (then). The statement could also include "may," according to California State University, Bakersfield .

Here are some examples of hypothesis statements:

• If garlic repels fleas, then a dog that is given garlic every day will not get fleas.
• If sugar causes cavities, then people who eat a lot of candy may be more prone to cavities.
• If ultraviolet light can damage the eyes, then maybe this light can cause blindness.

A useful hypothesis should be testable and falsifiable. That means that it should be possible to prove it wrong. A theory that can't be proved wrong is nonscientific, according to Karl Popper's 1963 book " Conjectures and Refutations ."

An example of an untestable statement is, "Dogs are better than cats." That's because the definition of "better" is vague and subjective. However, an untestable statement can be reworded to make it testable. For example, the previous statement could be changed to this: "Owning a dog is associated with higher levels of physical fitness than owning a cat." With this statement, the researcher can take measures of physical fitness from dog and cat owners and compare the two.

Types of scientific hypotheses

In an experiment, researchers generally state their hypotheses in two ways. The null hypothesis predicts that there will be no relationship between the variables tested, or no difference between the experimental groups. The alternative hypothesis predicts the opposite: that there will be a difference between the experimental groups. This is usually the hypothesis scientists are most interested in, according to the University of Miami .

For example, a null hypothesis might state, "There will be no difference in the rate of muscle growth between people who take a protein supplement and people who don't." The alternative hypothesis would state, "There will be a difference in the rate of muscle growth between people who take a protein supplement and people who don't."

If the results of the experiment show a relationship between the variables, then the null hypothesis has been rejected in favor of the alternative hypothesis, according to the book " Research Methods in Psychology " (​​BCcampus, 2015). 

There are other ways to describe an alternative hypothesis. The alternative hypothesis above does not specify a direction of the effect, only that there will be a difference between the two groups. That type of prediction is called a two-tailed hypothesis. If a hypothesis specifies a certain direction — for example, that people who take a protein supplement will gain more muscle than people who don't — it is called a one-tailed hypothesis, according to William M. K. Trochim , a professor of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University.

Sometimes, errors take place during an experiment. These errors can happen in one of two ways. A type I error is when the null hypothesis is rejected when it is true. This is also known as a false positive. A type II error occurs when the null hypothesis is not rejected when it is false. This is also known as a false negative, according to the University of California, Berkeley . 

A hypothesis can be rejected or modified, but it can never be proved correct 100% of the time. For example, a scientist can form a hypothesis stating that if a certain type of tomato has a gene for red pigment, that type of tomato will be red. During research, the scientist then finds that each tomato of this type is red. Though the findings confirm the hypothesis, there may be a tomato of that type somewhere in the world that isn't red. Thus, the hypothesis is true, but it may not be true 100% of the time.

Scientific theory vs. scientific hypothesis

The best hypotheses are simple. They deal with a relatively narrow set of phenomena. But theories are broader; they generally combine multiple hypotheses into a general explanation for a wide range of phenomena, according to the University of California, Berkeley . For example, a hypothesis might state, "If animals adapt to suit their environments, then birds that live on islands with lots of seeds to eat will have differently shaped beaks than birds that live on islands with lots of insects to eat." After testing many hypotheses like these, Charles Darwin formulated an overarching theory: the theory of evolution by natural selection.

"Theories are the ways that we make sense of what we observe in the natural world," Tanner said. "Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts." 

• Read more about writing a hypothesis, from the American Medical Writers Association.
• Find out why a hypothesis isn't always necessary in science, from The American Biology Teacher.
• Learn about null and alternative hypotheses, from Prof. Essa on YouTube .

Encyclopedia Britannica. Scientific Hypothesis. Jan. 13, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/science/scientific-hypothesis

Karl Popper, "The Logic of Scientific Discovery," Routledge, 1959.

California State University, Bakersfield, "Formatting a testable hypothesis." https://www.csub.edu/~ddodenhoff/Bio100/Bio100sp04/formattingahypothesis.htm  

Karl Popper, "Conjectures and Refutations," Routledge, 1963.

Price, P., Jhangiani, R., & Chiang, I., "Research Methods of Psychology — 2nd Canadian Edition," BCcampus, 2015.‌

University of Miami, "The Scientific Method" http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/161/evolution/161app1_scimethod.pdf  

William M.K. Trochim, "Research Methods Knowledge Base," https://conjointly.com/kb/hypotheses-explained/  

University of California, Berkeley, "Multiple Hypothesis Testing and False Discovery Rate" https://www.stat.berkeley.edu/~hhuang/STAT141/Lecture-FDR.pdf  

University of California, Berkeley, "Science at multiple levels" https://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/howscienceworks_19

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Writing a Hypothesis & Prediction

A prediction and a hypothesis are different. However, experiments should include both a hypothesis and a prediction.

• A hypothesis is normally generated from an idea or observation.

Examples of hypotheses

• Adding water to a sunflower will help it grow.
• An increase in temperature will increase the rate of reaction.
• A change in pH will affect how an enzyme works.

• The prediction will explain how your hypothesis can be tested.
• The prediction states a relationship between two variables.
• The stated relationship should be suggested in the hypothesis.

Examples of predictions

• If I increase the amount of water I use to water the plant, it will grow more.
• If I decrease the temperature, the rate of reaction will decrease.
• If I increase the pH, the rate of activity will increase.

The word 'because'

• Once you have written the prediction, you can extend your work by using the word ‘because’.
• Use your scientific knowledge to explain your prediction.

1.1 Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.1.1 Microscopes

1.1.2 Magnification

1.1.3 Multicellular Organisms

1.1.4 Tissues

1.1.5 Organs

1.1.6 Unicellular Organisms

1.1.7 Diffusion

1.1.8 Factors Affecting Diffusion

1.1.9 Plant Cells

1.1.10 Cellulose

1.1.11 Plant Tissues

1.1.12 Leaves

1.1.13 Animal Cells

1.1.14 Comparing Animal & Plant Cells

1.1.15 How to Make a Model Animal and Plant Cell

1.1.16 Specialised Cells

1.1.17 Stem Cells

1.1.18 Uses of Stem Cells

1.1.19 Disadvantages of Stem Cells

1.1.20 Blood Components

1.1.21 Platelets

1.1.22 End of Topic Test - Cells & Organisation

1.1.23 The Lungs

1.1.24 Breathing

1.1.25 Plant Gas Exchange

1.1.26 Health

1.1.27 End of Topic Test - Living Organisms

1.2 Reproduction & Variation

1.2.1 Reproduction in Humans

1.2.2 Male Reproductive System

1.2.3 Female Reproductive System

1.2.4 Gestation

1.2.5 Pregnancy

1.2.6 Puberty

1.2.7 The Menstrual Cycle

1.2.8 Reproduction in Plants

1.2.9 Pollination

1.2.10 Dispersal Method

1.2.11 Variation

1.2.12 Causes of Variation

1.2.13 Inheritance

1.2.14 Adaptations and Evolution

1.2.15 Species & Selective Breeding

1.2.16 Genetic Conditions

1.2.17 End of Topic Test - Reproduction & Variation

1.3 Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.3.1 Species Interdependence

1.3.2 Food Chains & Webs

1.3.3 Changes to Food Webs 1

1.3.4 Changes to Food Webs 2

1.3.5 Relationships in an Ecosystem

1.3.6 The Impact of Environmental Change

1.3.7 Decomposers

1.3.8 Decay

1.3.9 Assessing Ecosystems

1.3.10 Ecological Sampling

1.3.11 Required Practical - Estimating Population Size

1.3.12 Pyramids of Number and Biomass

1.3.13 Classification of Living Organisms

1.3.14 Competition Between Organisms

1.3.15 Adaptations of Plants

1.3.16 Natural Selection

1.3.17 Evidence for Evolution

1.3.18 Environmental Changes & Extinctions

1.3.19 The Importance of Biodiversity

1.3.20 Bioaccumulation

1.3.21 End of Topic Test - Material Cycles & Energy

1.4 Digestion & Nutrition

1.4.1 Balanced Diets

1.4.2 Vitamins & Minerals

1.4.3 Protein

1.4.4 Lipids, Oils and Fats

1.4.5 Carbohydrates

1.4.6 Starch

1.4.7 Energy Needs

1.4.8 Dietary Fibre

1.4.9 Diseases Caused by Nutritional Deficiencies

1.4.10 Digestion

1.4.11 Plant Nutrition

1.4.12 Enzymes in Digestion

1.4.13 Required Practical - Enzymes in Digestion

1.5 Plants & Photosynthesis

1.5.1 Roots

1.5.2 Photosynthesis

1.5.3 Leaves

1.5.4 Rate of Photosynthesis

1.5.5 Testing the Rate of Photosynthesis

1.5.6 Water Transport in Plants

1.5.7 Translocation

1.5.8 The Carbon Cycle

1.5.9 Human Activities & Carbon Dioxide

1.6 Biological Systems & Processes

1.6.1 Living Organisms

1.6.2 Dichotomous Keys

1.6.3 Biomechanics

1.6.4 Muscles

1.6.5 The Skeleton

1.6.6 Measuring Forces

1.6.7 Antagonistic Muscle Pairings

1.6.8 The Respiratory System

1.6.9 Structure & Function of the Gas Exchange System

1.6.10 Breathing

1.6.11 Respiration

1.6.12 Respiration During Exercise

1.6.13 Anaerobic Respiration

1.6.14 Lactic Acid

1.6.15 Effects of Smoking on the Respiratory System

1.6.16 Balanced Diets

1.6.17 Human Growth & Development

1.6.19 Alleles

1.6.20 Genotype vs Phenotype

1.6.21 Punnett Squares

1.6.22 Joints

1.6.23 The Renal System

1.6.24 The Double Circulatory System

1.6.25 Heart and Blood

1.6.26 Blood Vessels

1.6.27 Glucose

1.6.28 Glucose and Diabetes

1.6.29 The Effects of Recreational Drug Use

1.6.30 Human Illnesses

1.6.31 Antibiotics

1.6.32 Vaccinations

1.6.33 How Antibiotics and Vaccines Work

1.6.34 Mental Health

2 Chemistry

2.1 Particles

2.1.1 Particles

2.1.2 States of Matter

2.1.3 Changes of State

2.1.4 Properties of States of Matter

2.1.5 Diffusion

2.1.6 Changing State

2.1.7 Pressure

2.1.8 Temperature Increase in a Gas

2.1.9 Conservation of Mass

2.1.10 Purity of Substances

2.1.11 Pure Substances

2.1.12 Evaporation

2.1.13 Mixtures

2.1.14 Separating Mixtures

2.1.15 Distillation

2.1.16 Chromatography

2.1.17 Solubility

2.1.18 Investigating Solubility

2.2 Chemical Reactions

2.2.1 Chemical Reactions

2.2.2 Common Reactions

2.2.3 Acids & Alkalis

2.2.4 Reactions of Acids

2.2.5 Testing for Hydrogen

2.2.6 The pH Scale

2.2.7 Titration

2.2.8 End of Topic Test - Chemical Reactions

2.3 Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.3.1 Atoms

2.3.2 Elements

2.3.3 Compounds & Mixtures

2.3.4 Electron Configuration

2.3.5 Chemical Symbols

2.3.6 Chemical Formulae

2.3.7 Conservation of Mass

2.3.8 Vacuums

2.3.9 Molecules

2.3.10 End of Topic Test - Particles & Atoms

2.4 The Periodic Table

2.4.1 Physical Properties

2.4.2 Chemical Properties

2.4.3 The Periodic Table

2.4.4 Metals

2.4.5 Non-Metals

2.4.6 Alkali Metals

2.4.7 Halogens

2.4.8 Oxides

2.4.9 End of Topic Test - The Periodic Table

2.5 Materials & the Earth

2.5.1 The Composition of The Earth

2.5.2 The Structure of the Earth

2.5.3 Igneous Rocks

2.5.4 Sedimentary Rocks

2.5.5 Metamorphic Rocks

2.5.6 The Rock Cycle

2.5.7 Physical Weathering

2.5.8 Chemical Weathering

2.5.9 Biological Weathering

2.5.10 The Formation of Fossils

2.5.11 Crude Oil

2.5.12 End of Topic Test - Earth

2.5.13 The Earth's Early Atmosphere

2.5.14 The Earth's Atmosphere Today

2.5.15 Oxygen in the Atmosphere

2.5.16 Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere

2.5.17 Greenhouse Gases

2.5.18 Climate Change

2.5.19 Resources

2.5.20 Recycling

2.5.21 Ceramics

2.5.22 Polymers

2.5.23 Composites

2.5.24 End of Topic Test - Materials

2.5.25 End of Topic Test - Polymers

2.6 Reactivity

2.6.2 Ionic Bonding

2.6.3 State Symbols

2.6.4 Balancing Chemical Equations

2.6.5 Relative Formula Mass

2.6.6 Calculating the Relative Formula Mass

2.6.7 The Reactivity Series

2.6.8 Carbon & The Reactivity Series

2.6.9 Displacement Reactions

2.6.10 Displacement Reactions - Halogens

2.6.11 Alloys

2.6.12 Metal Alloys

2.7 Energetics

2.7.1 Measuring Gas Production

2.7.2 Observing a Colour Change

2.7.3 Analysing Reaction Rates

2.7.4 Factors Affecting the Rate of Reaction

2.7.5 Catalysts

2.7.6 Testing for Oxygen

2.7.7 Energy Changes During Reactions

2.8 Properties of Materials

2.8.1 Testing for Gases

2.8.2 Alloys

2.8.3 Density

2.8.4 Density of Solids, Liquids & Gases HyperLearning

3.1.1 Energy Stores & Pathways

3.1.2 Energy Transfers

3.1.3 Common Energy Transfers

3.1.4 Wasted Energy

3.1.5 Efficiency of Energy Transfer

3.1.6 Sankey Diagrams

3.1.7 Heat & Temperature

3.1.8 Heat Transfer

3.1.9 Conductors vs Insulators

3.1.10 Reducing Energy Transfers

3.1.11 Energy & Power

3.1.12 Energy in Food

3.1.13 Calories

3.1.14 Food Labels

3.1.15 Energy at Home

3.1.16 Fuel Bills

3.1.17 Calculating Fuel Bills

3.1.18 Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels

3.1.19 Other Non-Renewables

3.1.20 Renewable Energy - Air & Ground

3.1.21 Renewable Energy - Water

3.1.22 End of Topic Test - Energy

3.2 Forces & Motion

3.2.1 Forces

3.2.2 Contact Forces

3.2.3 Balanced Forces

3.2.4 Force Diagrams & Resultant Forces

3.2.5 Free Body Diagram - Uses

3.2.6 Force & Acceleration

3.2.7 Gravity

3.2.8 Weight

3.2.9 Pressure

3.2.10 Speed

3.2.11 Relative Motion

3.2.12 Friction

3.2.13 Water & Air Resistance

3.2.14 Distance-Time Graphs

3.2.15 Moments

3.2.16 Levers

3.2.17 Work

3.2.18 Machines

3.2.19 Work & Machines

3.2.20 Elasticity

3.2.21 Elasticity - Hooke's Law

3.2.22 Density

3.2.23 Floating & Sinking

3.2.24 End of Topic Test - Forces & Motion

3.2.25 Vacuums

3.2.26 Thermal Energy & Conduction

3.2.27 Convection & Radiation

3.2.28 Evaporation

3.3.1 Waves

3.3.2 Types of Waves

3.3.3 Observing Waves

3.3.4 Wave Speed

3.3.5 Earthquakes

3.3.6 Sound Waves

3.3.7 Uses of Sound Waves

3.3.8 The Interactions of Sound with Different Mediums

3.3.9 Reflecting Sounds

3.3.10 The Speed of Sound

3.3.11 Measuring the Speed of Sound

3.3.12 The Hearing Range of Humans

3.3.13 The Human Ear

3.3.14 Light Waves

3.3.15 Reflection

3.3.16 Drawing a Reflected Image

3.3.17 Refraction

3.3.18 The Human Eye

3.3.19 The Eye as a Pinhole Camera

3.3.20 Lenses

3.3.21 Colour

3.3.22 Seeing Colour

3.3.23 Colours of Light

3.3.24 Drawing Waves

3.3.25 Wave Interactions

3.3.26 Comparing Sound & Light

3.3.27 End of Topic Test - Waves

3.3.28 End of Topic Test - Sound

3.4 Electricity & Magnetism

3.4.1 Circuit Symbols

3.4.2 Resistors & Diodes

3.4.3 Electric Current

3.4.4 Measuring Current

3.4.5 Potential Difference

3.4.6 Series Circuits

3.4.7 Parallel Circuits

3.4.8 Resistance

3.4.9 Charges

3.4.10 Static Electricity

3.4.11 Magnets

3.4.12 Magnetic Fields

3.4.13 The Earth's Field

3.4.14 Electromagnetism

3.4.15 Uses of Electromagnets

3.4.16 Strength of Magnetic Fields

3.4.17 Circuit Symbols HyperLearning

3.5.1 Physical Reactions

3.5.2 Changes of State

3.5.3 Particles

3.5.4 Density

3.5.5 Density & the Particle Model

3.5.6 The Equation for Density

3.5.7 Dissolving

3.5.8 Brownian Motion

3.5.9 Diffusion

3.5.10 Filtration

3.5.11 Solids

3.5.12 Liquids

3.5.13 Gases

3.5.14 Weight & Mass

3.5.15 Gravity

3.5.16 Gravitational Field Strength

3.5.17 Gravity in Space

3.5.18 Atmospheric Pressure

3.5.19 Liquid Pressure

3.5.20 End of Topic Test - Matter

3.6 Space Physics

3.6.1 The Sun

3.6.2 The Planets

3.6.3 Other Astronomical Bodies

3.6.4 The Milky Way

3.6.5 Beyond The Milky Way

3.6.6 The Seasons

3.6.7 Days, Months & Years

3.6.8 The Moon

3.6.9 Light Years

3.6.10 End of Topic Test - Space

4 Thinking Scientifically

4.1 Models & Representations

4.1.1 Strengths & Limitations of Models

4.1.2 Symbols & Formulae to Represent Scientific Ideas

4.1.3 Analogies in Science

4.1.4 Changing Models – Atomic Theory

4.1.5 Working Safely in the Lab

4.1.6 Variables

4.1.7 Writing a Hypothesis & Prediction

4.1.8 Planning an Experiment

4.1.9 Maths Skills for Science

4.1.10 Drawing Scientific Apparatus

4.1.11 Observation & Measurement Skills

4.1.12 Types of Data

4.1.13 Graphs & Charts

4.1.14 Bias in Science

4.1.15 Conclude & Evaluate

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Planning an Experiment

A statement that could be true, which might then be tested.

Example: Sam has a hypothesis that "large dogs are better at catching tennis balls than small dogs". We can test that hypothesis by having hundreds of different sized dogs try to catch tennis balls.

Sometimes the hypothesis won't be tested, it is simply a good explanation (which could be wrong). Conjecture is a better word for this.

Example: you notice the temperature drops just as the sun rises. Your hypothesis is that the sun warms the air high above you, which rises up and then cooler air comes from the sides.

Note: when someone says "I have a theory" they should say "I have a hypothesis", because in mathematics a theory is actually well proven.

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KS2 Science Investigation Planning Sheet

Subject: Primary science

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

14 February 2022

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Science investigation planning sheet for LA, MA and HA. Suitable for KS2 science investigations.

Planning sheet allows children to plan their: investigation question, list of equipment, method steps, independent variables, dependent variables, controlled variables and hypothesis.

Can be used for any scientific investigation or experiment.

LA sheet heavily scaffolds children’s hypothesis. MA sheet gives children the freedom to plan their own investigation, with a scaffolded structure. HA sheet questions children’s investigation choices.

Widget symbols used to support EAL and ELL learners.

Creative Commons "Attribution"

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Thanks, these look great for outlining the needs of an investigation.

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