Skip to content
MeerkatSkool Afrikaans
Summaries · Grade 6 Natural Sciences › Doing a scientific investigation
Free summary · Grade 6 Natural Sciences

Doing a scientific investigation

How to plan a fair investigation, measure, work out averages and draw a graph. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

Know it already? Jump straight to the quiz

Your progress0 of 3

The steps

QuestionHypothesisMethodResultsConclusion
From question to conclusion.

Lwazi tests how long salt takes to dissolve in 100 mL of water at different temperatures. She changes the water temperature, measures the time with a stopwatch, and keeps the amount of water, salt and stirring the same. That makes it a fair test.

A fair test: three balls, one difference.
A fair test: three balls, one difference.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Results and graphs

025507510020 °C40 °C60 °C80 °Cseconds
Lwazi’s results: the hotter the water, the less time the salt takes to dissolve. (Average time of three tests.)
  • Measure temperature with a thermometer, volume with a measuring jug or cylinder.
  • A result that does not fit the pattern: check it or repeat the test, and mention it.
  • Conclusion: salt dissolves faster in hotter water.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Variables

VariableIn Lwazi’s test
What she changes (independent)The water temperature
What she measures (dependent)How long the salt takes to dissolve
What she keeps the same (controlled variables)100 mL water, same salt, same stirring
Rule

Change only one variable at a time, so you know which change caused the result.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • A hypothesis is a sensible guess that you can test.
  • Fair test: change one thing (the independent variable), measure one thing (the dependent), keep the rest the same.
  • Repeat tests and work out the average: 12 s, 14 s and 13 s → 39 ÷ 3 = 13 s.
  • Record results in a table; show change with a line graph; what you change goes on the x-axis.
  • Wear safety goggles when you heat water.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

What I change goes on the x-axis; what I measure goes on the y-axis. And everything else stays the same.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

    Now the real quiz!

    The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.

    Take the quiz: Doing a scientific investigation
    All Grade 6 Natural Sciences summaries
    For parents
    • Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
    • The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.

    Follows CAPS for Grade 6 Natural Sciences and Technology. Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.

    Free PDF