scientific method introduction worksheet

The Biology Corner

Biology Teaching Resources

Scientific Method

Lab safety and equipment use, scientific method puzzle.

Lab Safety Contract

Measure a Bean

Tools and Measurements

Using a Micropipette

Lab Safety Cartoon

The Elephant Poem

Equipment Lab

Significant Figures

Stories and Scenarios

Variables with simpsons.

Independent Variables

Beriberi and Penicillin

Discoveries in Science

The Martian and the Car

Language of Science

Logical Fallacies

Units of Measurement

Scientific Method Scenarios

Asking Causal Questions

• English Language Arts
• Graphic Organizers
• Social Studies
• Teacher Printables
• Foreign Language

Home > Science Worksheets > Scientific Method

The series of worksheets you will find in this section will really test your understanding of the concept of the scientific method. You will be put to the test in many diverse scenarios. We start by learning the order of the steps of process and the history of how value was attributed to this process. We learn how to form and write valid hypotheses. We learn how to identify and classify variables that can affect the outcome of an experiment. Students will learn how to keep all conditions in the environment the tests are taking place to limit inaccuracies in our data collection process. We learn how to identify a control and decide upon proper experimental groups that should be tested through the course of this. We learn how to collect data and then analyze that data through the use of data tables and charts. From that data analysis we then learn how to draw acceptable and valid conclusions while taken all things into considerations.

Get Free Worksheets In Your Inbox!

Print scientific method worksheets, click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key., sequencing the scientific method.

Provide the letter of the definition that matches the scientific terms below.

Starting the Process

The scientific method is basically an organized way to investigate something that interests you, when you want to find out why something happens the way it does. It all starts with a question.

The Process Page 2

After scientists complete an experiment they report their conclusions. Each branch of science has a report format for publishing the results of experiments. If you do an experiment for a science fair project you will report your conclusions on a poster board for everyone to see. Y

Understanding the Process

Put the step number next to each step of the scientific method for this problem.

Practice with the Method

In 1872 a wealthy railroad tycoon named Leland Stanford (Stanford University is named after him) made a bet with a friend about a galloping horse. Put the step number next to each step of the scientific method for this problem.

Historic Process of the Method

Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk who lived from 1822 until 1884. He performed some of the first research ever in heredity. Mendel grew an estimated 28,000 pea plants over eight years. Students can perform an experiment that is similar to one of his famous experiments with pea plants.

Understanding Hypotheses

A hypothesis is testable if you can create a controlled experiment that will give you more information. This hypothesis is testable because you can experiment with two groups of plants of the same species.

Practice with Hypotheses

Write a testable hypothesis for these situations. The beauty of this worksheet is that there are a ton of different approaches that you can take.

Hypothesis Practice

Have another go at these types of questions.

Understanding Dependent and Independent Variables

Experiments test the influence of one thing over another. A proper experiment compares two or more things but changes only one variable or factor in the experiment.

Identifying Dependent and Independent Variables

Identify the dependent and independent variables in the following cases.

Practice with Dependent and Independent Variables

Exercises with dependent and independent variables, understanding control and experimental groups.

The way to show that a hypothesis is true or false is to design and complete an experiment.

Identifying Control and Experimental Groups

Identify the control and experimental groups in the following cases.

Practice with Control and Experimental Groups

Exercises with control and experimental groups.

The control group does not get the factor being tested. The experimental group does get the factor being tested.

Writing Experiment Conclusions

The conclusion gives a snapshot of what you accomplished so it contains summary information about the experiment as well as the conclusions.

Identifying Experiment Conclusions

Write one sentence to the right of the graph that summarizes what the data shows in each of these experiments.

Practice with Experiment Conclusions

Exercises with experiment conclusions, exercise set one.

Researchers at Pur-Rite Pharmaceutical Company also developed a new additive for cattle feed that they hope will cause beef cattle to gain weight faster so they can be sent to market sooner.

Exercise Set Two

The executives in charge of advertising for Big Spill brand of paper towels want to advertise that Big Spill towels absorb twice as much water as Good Buy brand.

Exercise Set Three

In a taste test consumers preferred Healthy Meal brand frozen enchilada dinner over the other best-selling brand.

Exercise Set Four

If you make ice cubes from warm water the cubes freeze faster than if you made them from cold water.

Exercise Set Five

The vacuum seal method of storing chicken in the freezer results in less freezer burn than storing the chicken in a freezer storage bag.

Stroop Effect

What happens if you ask someone to name the color of letters printed on a flash card if the letters spell the name of another color?

Scientific Method - Inertia and Momentum

A basic scientific principle is that a body in motion remains in motion unless stopped by an outside force and a body at rest remains at rest unless moved by an outside force.

Effect of Light on Fall Leaf Colors

Do leaves need sunlight in order to change color in the fall?

Water Absorption in Plants and Flowers

How do plants absorb and use water?

Iron and Magnetism

Swish the magnet through the cereal mixture making certain that the magnet reaches the bottom of the bowl because the iron will sink to the bottom.

Oxidation of Cut Apples

A cut apple turns brown after a few minutes. People don't like to eat brown apple slices but you'd like to serve cut up fruit to your guests who are coming in half an hour.

Oxidation of Cut Apples by Variety

Form a conclusion from what is presented.

What Is the Scientific Method?

Scientists use many methods to uncover evidence and draw conclusions, but the scientific method is at the root of all experiments. This method is a guideline that aids people in testing their ideas and finding evidence that can show us the relationships between things, forming the foundation of discovery.

It is a means of using experiments to solve a problem or answer a scientific question. It includes doing experiments, gathering information, and then making conclusions about what you have discovered.

It is a fundamental scientific concept and is the basis for all scientific discoveries. So, let's discuss what the scientific method entails and go through the steps to understand how you can test, examine, and draw conclusions about the world around us.

This is a process that can help you in all walks of life, not just in a science lab. The basic overview of the method requires you first to identify a problem or truth that you are seeking. It could be something as simple as "does water help plants grow?" After you determine the problem you need to come up with a prediction of what you think the answer to the question is. After that we design an experiment to test this prediction. After we gather all the data from the experiment, we examine the data and draw a conclusion. From there we share and discuss all the data with others.

An Explanation of the Six Steps

No matter what your problem or question is, whether it's something small or something big, the scientific method always makes use of the same six steps:

• Ask a question.
• Research the topic.
• Form a hypothesis or testable explanation.
• Test with an experiment.
• Analyze the data.
• Draw a conclusion.

Let's take a closer look and go through the scientific method together.

1. Ask a Question

This first step is where you get to ask any scientific question you want an answer to. Keep in mind the question needs to be something you can test. The questions typically begin with how, what, where, when, who, why, or which.

For example, "how can I make a plant grow faster?" or "when was the universe created?" The latter question would be pretty tricky to answer, but the first one is testable! Once you have your question, you can move on to the next step.

2. Research the Topic

You'll need to have some background information to test something. The more you know about a subject, the easier it will be to conduct the experiments and come to your conclusions. Not doing research could result in mistakes that might skew the data you collect during your investigation.

3. Form a Hypothesis or Testable Explanation

Forming a hypothesis (an educated guess) is when you predict what you think will happen using all the information you have gathered so far.

For example, it is reasonable to assume that "plants that have fertilizer in the soil will grow faster than those without." Now that you have predicted what will happen, it's time for the fun part - the experiment!

4. Test With an Experiment

You will need to design an experiment to test if your hypothesis is correct. In other words, this is when you figure out if you're right or wrong.

There might be multiple tests you need to do to come to the correct conclusion and ensure you didn't get there by accident. If you're running many trials, it is better to change only one variable at a time, which allows for the highest level of accuracy.

5. Analyze the Data

Once your experiment is complete, you'll need to analyze all the data you have gathered. You can do this using graphs, charts, diagrams, etc. This charting aims to find out if your hypothesis is supported or contradicted. If the experiment results don't support your original theory, you can change your hypothesis and run more tests.

6. Draw a Conclusion

Conclude whether you accept or reject your hypothesis. In many cases, the experiment will not support your theory, but that's okay – you can start over with a new understanding of how things work.

The last thing that needs to happen is to communicate your findings. You can do this by writing a report or giving a talk on the subject.

In short, the scientific method is an excellent way to study and learn things while getting to do fun and exciting experiments! Whenever you have a question about science, nature, or even the universe, you can always follow these six steps to find the answer, or at least get one step closer to finding it!

scientific method worksheets free'

All Formats

Resource types, all resource types, scientific method worksheets free'.

• Rating Count
• Price (Ascending)
• Price (Descending)
• Most Recent

Scientific Method Worksheet FREE

Scientific Method Fill in the Blank Worksheets - use with FREE Primary Text

FREE Scientific Method Worksheet : Variables and Hypotheses Coloring Activity

FREEBIE Scientific Method Review Worksheet (Science)

FREE Scientific Method Worksheet

Scientific Method Worksheet and Scientific Method Activity UNIT

Scientific Method in Action (KEY)

Scientific Method Order Activity

Scientific Method Worksheet

The Scientific Method Science Labs Notes to Doodle Worksheet Back to School

Scientific Method Lab Worksheets & Classroom Poster - Upper Elementary

Scientific Method Practice Worksheet

Fossils Worksheet Worksheets Experiments Freebie

Free Science Halloween Activity: Genotype and Phenotype Punnett Square Worksheet

Scientific Method Inquiry Lab - Does Practice Make Perfect

Weathering and Erosion Worksheet Experiment Freebie

The Scientific Method 9 Product Bundle ( Worksheets , ADI Lab Activity, and Test)

Scientific Method Application Worksheet

• Google Docs™

Scientific Method Worksheet For Kids | Homeschool Science Experiment Activities

Science- SCIENTIFIC METHOD worksheet , powerpoint , bulletin board mini-lesson

Scientific Method Colorful Confetti Posters and Worksheets

Scientific Method Slides & Worksheet

Scientific Method Inquiry Lab Soap Bubbles

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think

NGSS Life Science

Scientific method worksheets.

Membership Includes: All Lesson Plans + Editable Files + Answer Keys + Test Question Banks

Scientific Method Concepts

• Scientific Method - observation, problem statement, hypothesis, materials, procedures, experiment, analysis, conclusion.
• Variables - control group, independent variable, dependent variable, standardizing variables.
• Scientific Process - controlled experiments, peer review, scientific journals, scientific theory, scientific law.
• Lab Equipment - graduated cylinder, flasks, glassware accessories, pipettes, hot plates.
• Microscopes - parts, handling, focusing, calculating power, wet mounts, safety and care.
• Lab Safety - lab procedures, handling of glassware, pipe petting, solutions, handling of chemicals, disposal of waste, sharp objects, heat.
• Graph Types - line graph, bar graph, scatter graph, pie charts.
• Graph Formatting - x y axis labels, title, legends, data tables, linking information.

Lessons Organized by NGSS Standard

• LS1 From Molecules to Organisms
• LS2 Ecosystems
• LS3 Heredity
• LS4 Biological Evolution

• Statistical Anaylsis
• ESS Topic 1.1: Environmental Value Systems
• ESS Topic 1.2: Systems and Models
• ESS Topic 1.3: Energy and Equilibria
• ESS Topic 1.4: Sustainability
• ESS Topic 1.5: Humans and Pollution
• ESS Topic 2.1: Species and Population
• ESS Topic 2.2: Communities and Ecosystems
• ESS Topic 2.3: Flows of Energy and Matter
• ESS Topic 2.4: Biomes, Zonation and Succession
• ESS Topic 2.5: Investigating Ecosystems
• ESS Topic 3.1: Introduction to Biodiversity
• ESS Topic 3.2: Origins of Biodiversity
• ESS Topic 3.3: Threats to Biodiversity
• ESS Topic 3.4: Conservation of Biodiversity
• ESS Topic 4.1: Introduction to Water Systems
• ESS Topic 4.2: Access to Fresh Water
• ESS Topic 4.3: Aquatic Food Production Systems
• ESS Topic 4.4: Water Pollution
• ESS Topic 5.1: Introduction to Soil Systems
• ESS Topic 5.2: Terrestrial Food Production Systems and Food Choices
• ESS Topic 5.3: Soil Degradation and Conservation
• ESS Topic 6.1: Introduction to the Atmosphere
• ESS Topic 6.2: Stratospheric Ozone
• ESS Topic 6.3: Photochemical Smog
• ESS Topic 6.4: Acid Deposition
• ESS Topic 7.1: Energy Source and Security
• ESS Topic 7.2: Climate change – Causes and Impacts
• ESS Topic 7.3: Climate change – Mitigation and Adaptation
• ESS Topic 8.1: Human Populations Dynamics
• ESS Topic 8.2: Resource Use in Society
• ESS Topic 8.3 Solid Domestic Waste
• ESS Topic 8.4 Human Population Carrying Capacity
• ESS IA Context
• Secondary Data - Data Bases
• ESS IA Results, Analysis & Conclusions
• ESS IA Discussion and Evaluation
• ESS IA Application
• ESS IA Communication
• ESS Personal Skills in IA
• ESS Extended Essay
• IB Command Terms
• Official IB ESS Glossary
• IB ESS Revision
• Group 4 Project
• Topic 1.1 Introduction to Cells
• Topic 1.2 Ultra-Structure of Cells
• Topic 1.3 Membrane Structure
• Topic 1.4 Membrane Transport
• Topic 1.5 Origin of Cells
• Topic 1.6: Cell Division
• Topic 2.1:Molecules to Metabolism
• Topic 2.2 Water
• Topic 2.3: Carbohydrates and Lipids
• Topic 2.4: Proteins
• Topic 2.5: Enzymes
• Topic 2.6: Structure of DNA and RNA
• Topic 2.7: DNA Replication, Transcription and Translation
• Topic 2.8 Cellular Respiration
• Topic 2.9: Photosynthesis
• Topic 3.1: Genes
• Topic 3.2: Chromosomes
• Topic 3.3: Meiosis
• Topic 3.4: Inheritance
• Topic 3.5: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
• 4.1 Species, Communities and Ecosystems
• 4.2 Energy Flow
• 4.3 Carbon Cycle
• 4.4 Climate Change
• Topic 5.1 Evidence for Evolution
• Topic 5.2 Natural Selection
• Topic 5.3: Classification of Biodiversity
• Topic 5.4: Cladistics
• Topic 6.1: Digestion and Absorption
• Topic 6.2: The Blood System
• Topic 6.3: Defense Against Infectious Disease
• Topic 6.4: Gas Exchange
• Topic 6.5: Neurones and Synapses
• Topic 6.6: Hormones, Homeostasis and Reproduction
• Topic 7.1 DNA Structure and Replication
• Topic 7.2 Transcription and Gene Expression
• Topic 7.3 Translation
• Topic 8.1 Metabolism
• Topic 8.2 Cell Respiration
• Topic 8.3 Photosynthesis
• Topic 9.1 Transport in the Xylem of Plants
• Topic 9.2 Transport in the Phloem of Plants
• Topic 9.3 Growth in Plants
• Topic 9.4: Reproduction in Plants
• Topic 10.1: Meiosis
• Topic 10.2: Inheritance
• Topic 10.3: Gene Pools and Speciation
• Topic 11.1 Antibody Production and Vaccination
• Topic 11.2: Movement
• Topic 11.3: The Kidney and Osmoregulation
• Topic 11.4: Sexual Reproduction
• D1: Human Nutrition (Core)
• D2: Digestion (Core)
• D3: Function of the Liver (Core)
• D4: Function of the Heart (Core)
• D5: Hormones and Metabolism (HL)
• D6: Transport of Respiratory Gases (HL)
• Internal Assessment Personal Engagement
• Internal Assessment Exploration
• Internal Assessment - Analysis
• Internal Assessment Evaluation
• Internal Assessment - Communications
• IB Biology Revision
• GR 10 Topic 1: Gas Exchange and Cellular Respiration
• GR 10 Topic 2 Muscles and Energy
• GR10 Topic 3: Homeostasis and Thermoregulation
• How Much Is That Kidney
• Grade 9 Topic 1: Life Processes
• GR9 Topic 2: Cells
• GR 9 Topic 3: Macro Molecules
• GR9 Topic 4 Cellular Movement
• GR 9 Topic 5: Transport In Plant
• GR 9 Topic 6 Enzymes
• MYP Laboratory Guidance
• What Are You Eating
• Get Organized
• Day Before the Exam
• When You Sit Down For The Exam
• Taking The Exam
• Scientific Dictionary
• Scientific Method

scientific method

• Purpose/Question - What do you want to learn? An example would be, "What doorknob in school has the most germs ?" or "Do girls have faster reflexes than boys?" or "Does the color of a light bulb affect the growth of grass seeds?"
• Research - Find out as much as you can. Look for information in books, on the internet, and by talking with teachers to get the most information you can before you start experimenting.
• Hypothesis - After doing your research, try to predict the answer to the problem. Another term for hypothesis is 'cause and effect.' Be sure your hypothesis is testable and includes the independent and dependent variable.  Also back up your hypothesis with scientific explanation. This is usually stated like " If I...(do something) then...(this will occur)" An example would be, "If I grow grass seeds under yellow light bulbs, then they will grow faster than plants growing under red light bulbs".
• Variables:   The things that are changing in an experiment. A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. An experiment usually has three kinds of variables: independent, dependent, and controlled.
• Experiment - The fun part! Design a test or procedure to find out if your hypothesis is correct. In our example, you would set up grass seeds under a green light bulb and seeds under a red light and observe each for a couple of weeks. You would also set up grass seeds under regular white light so that you can compare it with the others. If you are doing this for a science fair, you will probably have to write down exactly what you did for your experiment step by step.
• Analysis - Record what happened during the experiment. Also known as 'data'.
• Conclusion - Review the data and check to see if your hypothesis was correct. If the grass under the green light bulb grew faster, then you proved your hypothesis, if not, your hypothesis was wrong. It is not "bad" if your hypothesis was wrong, because you still discovered something!
• Independent Variable This is the part of your experiment that you will test (vary) to answer your hypothesis. In the example above, the independent variable would be the different colors of the light bulbs.
• Dependent Variable This is what occurs in response to the changing independent variable. In our example the Dependent Variable is how much the grass seeds grow.
• Control Variable
• Control The control should be the part of the experiment where you do not include the Independent Variable. In our example, grass seed that is growing under the white (uncolored) bulb would be your control. The control lets you compare your results in the experiment.