How scientists work | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which of the following describes a scientist?
- A person who helps bring new life into the world.
- A person who keeps people safe and well in the world.
- A person who finds answers to questions about the world by doing experiments. ✓
What do astronomers study?
- The rock beneath Earth’s surface.
- The night sky, including stars and planets. ✓
- Star signs and predictions of the future.
- Materials and their properties.
What is a variable?
- Something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation. ✓
- Something that should never be changed in an investigation.
- Something that can get hotter or colder in an investigation.
If you control a variable, what do you do to it?
- change it
- it depends on the investigation
- nothing
- keep it the same ✓
Match the following key words to their description.
- Observations ...
  
  ⇔
  
  are things which you notice using your senses. ✓
- Predictions ...
  
  ⇔
  
  are statements describing what you think will happen. ✓
- Conclusions ...
  
  ⇔
  
  are statements describing what the results mean. ✓
What is at the centre of our solar system?
- Earth’s moon
- Earth
- the Sun ✓
- people

How do astronomers work scientifically?
- They control variables within investigations.
- They make and record many observations and look for patterns in their data. ✓
- They handle, change and mix materials.
What are control variables?
- Variables that are changed in an investigation.
- Variables that are not included in an investigation.
- Variables that are kept the same in an investigation. ✓
What did Sarah Gilbert’s tests result in?
- a tonsilitis vaccine
- a COVID–19 vaccine ✓
- a common cold vaccine
- a flu vaccine
True or false? There are some types of investigations where some, but not all, variables can be controlled.
- True ✓
- False
How does the space scientist Maggie Aderin–Pocock make her observations?
- Using instruments in satellites in the oceans.
- Using instruments in satellites on Earth.
- Using instruments in satellites in space. ✓
Match the type of scientist to how they work with variables.
- Materials scientists ...
  
  ⇔
  
  are often able to control variables in their investigations. ✓
- Astronomers ...
  
  ⇔
  
  are unable to control variables in their investigations. ✓

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Scientists who investigate materials often control, measure and change variables.
Control variables are variables that are kept the same throughout an investigation.
There are some types of investigations where some, but not all, variables can be controlled.
Astronomers make observations and look for patterns in their data, however, they cannot control variables in space.
The 21st century astronomer Maggie Aderin–Pocock makes her observations using instruments on satellites in space.

Scientific enquiry is only valid if variables can be controlled and changed.

Teaching slides will explain how some scientist cannot control variables and look for patterns in data and observations instead.

Control variable - Control variables are variables that are kept the same throughout an investigation.
Variables - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in a comparative or fair test.
Microorganism - A microorganism is a very tiny living thing.
Antiseptic - An antiseptic is used to prevent the growth of microorganisms.
Astronomer - An astronomer is a scientist who studies the night sky, including stars and planets.