Science Worksheets
Practice scientific tools, model limitations, forming a hypothesis, and identifying variables
🔧 Worksheet 1 — Choosing the Right Tool
Read what the scientist needs to measure or observe. Pick the BEST tool for the job.
Tool Quick Reference
- Ruler / Meter stick: measures length, width, height
- Thermometer: measures temperature (°C or °F)
- Balance / Pan balance: measures mass by comparing two objects
- Graduated cylinder / Beaker: measures liquid volume (mL or L)
- Spring scale: measures force or weight (Newtons)
- Hand lens (magnifying glass): makes small objects look bigger
- Stopwatch: measures time (seconds, minutes)
🗺️ Worksheet 2 — Model Limitations
A model is a smaller or simpler version of something real. Every model has limitations — things it cannot do or show perfectly. Pick the answer that best describes the model's limitation.
What Makes Something a Limitation?
- Size: a model is almost never the same size as the real thing
- Materials: a model is made of different stuff than the real thing
- Function: a model usually can't do what the real thing does (pump blood, erupt lava, etc.)
- Scale: distances and proportions aren't exact
- A strength of a model is NOT a limitation — be careful not to pick an answer that describes something the model does well
💡 Worksheet 3 — Writing a Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a testable prediction — a guess about what will happen and why. The best hypotheses follow an If… then… because… pattern and can be proven right or wrong through an experiment.
What Makes a Good Hypothesis?
- Testable: you can actually do an experiment to check it
- Specific: it mentions what you're changing AND what you expect to happen
- If… then… format: "If I add more fertilizer, then the plant will grow taller."
- NOT a fact: "Water is wet" is not a hypothesis — there's nothing to test
- NOT a question: "Will plants grow faster?" is a question, not a hypothesis
- Can be wrong! A hypothesis doesn't have to be correct — it just has to be testable
🔀 Worksheet 4 — Identifying Variables
In a fair experiment, scientists change one thing at a time. Read each experiment and identify the variables.
The Three Types of Variables
- Independent variable: the ONE thing the scientist changes on purpose. "What am I testing?"
- Dependent variable: what the scientist measures or observes as a result. "What do I record?"
- Controlled variables: everything kept the same so the test is fair. "What stays the same?"
- Trick: the independent variable goes on the X-axis of a graph; the dependent goes on the Y-axis