Elementary Science Investigative Format

1. Question
• Write a question or pose a problem that can be tested with an experiment.
• How does……………affect………?
2. Prediction/Hypothesis
• Make an educated guess about what might happen in the experiment
• Be sure your prediction answers the question.
• Write an “If…then…” statement. For example, If the grass sod receives more light then it will grow faster/higher.
3. Materials List
• List ALL the materials needed for the investigation
• Use a numbered or bulleted list format
• Be sure to your list is complete and detailed.
• Don’t forget to include your measuring instrument!
4. Procedure
• Write the steps needed to perform the investigation in logical order.
• One variable kept the same (Ex: equal pieces of the same grass sod)
• One changed variable (Ex: 2 hours of light, 6 hours of light, and 12 hours of light)
• One measured variable (Ex: the height of the grass sod at the end of each week for three weeks)
• Record results in data table!!!
• Repeat trials (3 times minimum!)
5. Summary
• Topic Sentence (Ex: This experiment gave the following results)
• Details summarizing data trends in data table
• Transition words are used
6. Conclusion
• Restate the QUESTION form above (word for word)
• Answer the question. Tell if you proved your prediction and support it with results from the investigation

o Give the lowest and highest data points

• Use explanatory language to connect or compare the supporting data to a correct conclusion Statement comparing the affects of the changed variable. (Ex: The grass sod receiving 12 hours of light grew the MOST while the grass sod receiving only 2 hours of light grew the LEAST.)