Exploring the Scientific Method - Scientific Methods Worksheet - True or False - Matching - Identifying

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by Finn

Exploring the Scientific Method provides a structured learning activity on how scientists investigate questions. It explains observations, hypotheses, controlled experiments, independent versus dependent variables, experimental and control groups, and how repeated testing leads to scientific theories distinct from scientific laws. The worksheet includes true-or-false statements, a word-definition matching section, and scenario-based identification of control/experimental groups and variable relationships.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

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Exploring the Scientific Method

True or False

Matching

Identifying

Answers

Name Date Section Exploring the Scientific Method The scientific method is a process that scientists use to better understand the world around them. It includes making observations and asking a question, forming a hypothesis, designing an experiment, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing a conclusion. This is sometimes also referred to as scientific inquiry. A hypothesis is a possible explanation for an observation. A good scientist will design a controlled experiment to test their hypothesis. In a controlled experiment, only one variable is tested at a time. It is called the manipulated or independent variable. The experimental group will test the independent variable. The control group will be left alone, so you have something to compare your results to. The variable that determines the data is the responding, or dependent variable. It responds to the manipulated variable. All other variables in the experiment should remain the same, because if you change more than one variable, you will not know which variable explained your results. Once something has been tested many different times by many different scientists, it can become a scientific theory. It is different from a scientific law, which describes what will happen every time under a particular set of conditions. True or False If the answer is true, write “true” on the line. If the answer is false, replace the underlined word or phrase with one that will make the sentence correct. Write the new word(s) on the line. 1. Forming a hypothesis is the first step of the scientific method. 2. A scientific law is different from a scientific theory because it describes something in nature without attempting to explain it. 3. In order for a hypothesis to be testable, scientists need to be able carry out investigations that will either support or disprove it. 4. The experimental group is the group that is left alone during the experiment. 5. The manipulated variable is the same thing as the independent variable. ©2015 Adventures in Science Matching Match the word to the definition. Write the letter on the line. 6. Scientific inquiry 7. Hypothesis 8. Control group 9. Experimental group 10 Independent variable 11. Dependent variable 12. Scientific theory 13. Scientific law A. This group shows the effect of the variable being tested B. This is the one variable that is changed C. A well-tested explanation for experimental results D. The many ways in which scientists study the natural world E. A possible answer to a scientific question F. This describes an observed pattern in nature G. This group is left alone and not experimented on H. This is the variable that gets measured Identifying Read through the following scenarios. Identify the control group, the experimental group, the independent variable, and the dependent variable. | Scenario | Independent
Variable | Dependent
Variable | Experimental
Group | Control
Group | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | A company wants to test a new dog food that is supposed to help overweight dogs lose weight. 50 dogs are chosen to get the new food, and 50 more continue their normal diets. After one month, the dogs are checked to see if they lost any weight. | 14. | 15. | 16. | 17. | | A new sunscreen has been developed that is supposed to be more effective at preventing sunburn. 30 participants spray one arm with the new formula, and spray the other arm with the leading formula. After 4 hours in the sun, their skin is evaluated for any redness. | 18. | 19. | 20. | 21. | | A student wants to study the effect of sunlight on plant growth. In his experiment, 12 plants receive normal amounts of sunlight, but half of them are kept under bright sun lamps all night long. After 6 weeks, the plants’ heights are measured. | 22. | 23. | 24. | 25. | ©2015 Adventures in Science Answers Name Date Section Exploring the Scientific Method

FAQs

What steps make up the scientific method as described in the worksheet?

The worksheet describes making observations and asking a question, forming a hypothesis, designing an experiment, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing a conclusion.

How do the independent (manipulated) variable and dependent (responding) variable differ?

In a controlled experiment, the manipulated or independent variable is the one that is tested, while the responding or dependent variable is the data that gets measured in response to the independent variable.

Why should only one variable be tested at a time in a controlled experiment?

Because if more than one variable changes, it becomes impossible to tell which variable explained the results.

Oct 1, 2026

Uploaded by Finn