🔬 ScienceGrade 6Lesson 1
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Ask Testable Questions from Observations

How to use: Download the PDF to print the worksheet. Then use this page to repeat activities and check answers.

Learning Objectives

  • 1Describe what makes a science question testable
  • 2Turn an everyday observation into a testable question
  • 3Rewrite a vague question as a specific, measurable one
  • 4Sort questions as testable or not testable
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Mini Lesson

Every science investigation begins with a question. But not every question can be answered by an experiment. A testable question is one you can answer by observing or measuring something. It points to a clear comparison, a measurable outcome, and a fair way to collect data. Learning to spot the difference between a testable question and an opinion question is the first move of every real scientist.

What Makes a Question Testable

  • It can be answered by measuring something — height, time, mass, temperature, count.
  • It compares two or more conditions clearly (with vs without, hot vs cold, more vs less).
  • It avoids opinion words like best, prettiest, nicest, or most fun.
  • It is specific enough that two scientists would set up the same experiment.
  • It can be repeated and the result can be checked again.

From Observation to Testable Question

A good testable question almost always begins with an observation. You notice something happening in the world, you wonder why, and then you turn that wonder into a question you can actually test. The trick is to keep narrowing it down until every word in the question can be measured or compared.

  1. Observe — notice something specific. Example: my plant near the window grew taller than the one in the closet.
  2. Wonder — ask yourself what might be causing the difference. Example: maybe sunlight matters.
  3. Draft — write a first question. Example: do plants like sunlight?
  4. Sharpen — replace opinion words with measurable ones. Example: do bean plants near a sunny window grow taller in 2 weeks than bean plants kept in a closet?

Testable vs Not Testable

  • TESTABLE: Does fertilizer make tomato plants grow taller in 4 weeks?
  • NOT TESTABLE: Are tomatoes the best vegetable? (opinion)
  • TESTABLE: Which paper towel brand absorbs the most water in 30 seconds?
  • NOT TESTABLE: Which paper towel is the prettiest? (opinion)
  • TESTABLE: Does temperature affect how fast sugar dissolves in water?
  • NOT TESTABLE: Is sugar nicer than salt? (opinion)
Testable vs Not TestableTestable vs Not TestableTestableDoes fertilizer affect plant height?Which towel absorbs more water?Does temperature melt ice faster?Do magnets pull every metal?Not testablexAre flowers pretty?xWhich fruit tastes best?xIs space exploration good?xAre dogs nicer than cats?
Rewrite a question to be testableVague to Specific to TestableVagueAre plants healthy?SpecificDo plants in my room grow?TestableDo bean plants near a window grow taller than ones in a closet in 2 weeks?
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Tip: if a question contains a word like best, nicest, prettiest, or most fun, it is probably an opinion. Replace those words with something you can measure (taller, faster, more grams, more seconds).

Vocabulary
observation
Something you notice using your senses or a measuring tool.
testable question
A question that can be answered by measuring or comparing something.
measurable
Something you can count, weigh, time, or measure with a tool.
opinion
A personal view that cannot be proven with measurements.
comparison
Looking at two or more conditions to see how they differ.
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Guided Practice

Write 3-4 sentences explaining what you have learned. Use at least 6 of the vocabulary words below.
observationtestablemeasurableopinioncomparisonspecific
📝 Words: 0 / 45🔤 Vocabulary used: 0 / 6
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Exercises

Sort each question into Testable or Not testable.

Testable

Not testable

Take a vague question and rewrite it as a testable one. Show how you would measure the answer.

0 words

Pick the best answer for each question.

1. Which of these is a TESTABLE science question?

2. A testable question must...

3. Which word in a question is a strong sign that the question is NOT testable?

4. You observe that ice melts faster on the kitchen counter than in the fridge. Which is the BEST testable rewrite?

5. Why does a testable question need to be specific?

6. Which question is NOT testable?

7. A student asks: Are LED bulbs better than regular bulbs? How can they make this question testable?

8. What is the BEST first step in turning an observation into a testable question?

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Assessment

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