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SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE PARENTS WORKSHOP 2013
SCIENCE ANSWERING TECHNIQUES
An Overview of the overall Primary Science Syllabus 2008
Themes Lower Block Upper Block
(Primary 3 and 4) (Primary 5 and 6)
Cycles • Life cycles of plants and animals • Reproduction of plants and animals
• Matter • Water
Systems • Plant parts and functions • Respiratory and circulatory systems in Plant
• Digestive system • Respiratory and circulatory systems in Human
• Cell system
• Electrical system
Step 1: Step 3:
Step 2:
What are the Location/
Circle the
conditions for venue of
difference/
germination? experiment
changed
temperature
variable
presence/
Warmth between the two
amount of
Oxygen set-ups?
warmth
Water
Aim of the experiment:
Changed variable
To find out how different locations/temperature/
amount/ presence of warmth affects the
germination of seeds.
Result
Fair Test (Scenario 1- Why is it a fair test?)
Q: Why is this experiment a fair one?
State in the table below if the following variables should be kept constant or
changed to ensure that the experiment would be a fair one. Put a tick () in the
appropriate boxes.
To be kept
Variable To be changed
constant
Amount of time in which the beans were soaked for
Type of liquid in which the beans were soaked in
Amount of liquid in which the beans were soaked in
Temperature of liquid in which the beans were soaked
in
What is a ‘control’ in experiments?
• Provides a baseline to measure other results against.
Which two set-ups should Jane choose for her experiment to ensure that it
is a fair one? Explain why.
Jane wants to find out if roots absorb water. There are four set-ups given
below.
plant
water water
Setup B Setup C
Control- Scenario 2 (Why is the conclusion inaccurate?)
Jonathan carried out an investigation to find out how the adding of fertiliser
affects the growth of a plant. He set up the experiment as shown below and
concluded that the plant grew better with fertiliser added.
Set up A Set up B
Difference in
Amount of
Set-ups Type of plant Type of soil Location height of
fertiliser
plant
A Rose plant Garden soil 100 ml In the garden 10cm
Based on the results what can you conclude about the relationship
between the number of coils and the strength of the electromagnet?
(Cause)
As the number of coils increases, the strength of
the electromagnet increases.
(Effect)
Relationship graph – P4 Light
(Cause)
Johnny wants to find out how the number of sheets of paper between the torch and
light sensor affects the amount of light received by the sensor. He set up the
experiment as shown. (Effect)
He recorded the findings in the table below.
Connected
Number of Amount of light
torch
to a meter
paper sheets (units) light sensor
0 80 X
1 32
Based on the results what can you
2 13 conclude about the relationship between
3 5 the number of paper sheets and the
4 2 amount of light detected?
5 1 (Cause)
6 0 As the number of paper sheets
7 0
increases, the amount of light
(Effect)
detected decreases.
Relationship graph
y-axis
(Effect)
x-axis
(Cause)
Relationship graph – P3 Magnets
x-axis (Cause)
Johnny wants to find out how the
number of coils round an iron nail
affects the strength of the
electromagnet.
y-axis (Effect)
Number of Number of
coils paper clips
attracted Number of paper
4 5 clips attracted
(Effect)
8 10
12 15
Direct relationship
Number of coils
Relationship graph – P3 Magnets
x-axis (Cause)
Johnny wants to find out how the number of
sheets of paper between the torch and light Connected
Upward
Downward
Comparative form
• The comparative form is used to describe differences
three or more.
before breaking)
• adjective + -est (e.g: greatest temperature difference,
C – Choice
I – Interpret from data (from graph/ table)
C – Conclusion (use comparative/ superlatives)
A – Application
Now try this:
The absorbency of a material refers to the amount of water it can absorb. Michael conducted an
experiment using four strips of similar size, length and thickness but were made from different
materials A, B, C and D. He immersed an equal length of each strip of material into a dish
containing coloured water for the same period of time. The diagram below shows the result of his
experiment.
Based on the results, which one of the materials is the most suitable for
making a kitchen towel that will dry the plates? Explain your answer.
Change in Y
Gradient = Change in X
P
P - steeper slope – greater change
Q
Q - gentler slope – lesser change
Time (min)
Which line, A and B shows a slower rate of evaporation?
Amount of water (ml)
A B
Time (min)
B – gentler slope – slower rate
A – steeper slope – faster rate
80
60
40
Original 20
length with
no mass
Load (g)
20 40 60 80
practise!
Daisy’s shadow changes over a period
of time as she walks in a straight line
near a street lamp at night.
change
change for Y
for X
The diagram below shows three containers, P, Q and R
with 100ml of water at room temperature. They were
placed at the same location until all the water
evaporated.
Time (min)
What are the factors affecting rate of evaporation
Volume
of water 100
(ml)
P R Q
0 Time (min)
DAILY APPLICATION
QUESTIONS
Involves (a) explanation of observation and
(b) applying the concepts to explain how
things work around us.
Tips
• Read the question closely and highlight
information in the abstract
• For application questions, pupils are
usually required to make use of the
explanation/ observation or answer from an
earlier part (E.g: part (a))
• May require a combination of Answering
techniques
Ken conducted an experiment as shown below to find out how the amount of light
reflected by three materials, A, B and C is affected by the distance the material is
away from the light source. He set up his experiment as shown in the diagram below.
He placed the materials at different distances away from the light source and he used
a light sensor to record the amount of light that was reflected. He recorded the
results and plotted the results in the graph below.
C: Material A.
I: From the graph, the material did not reflect any light when it
is the furthest away from the light source.
C: Hence, it is the poorest reflector of light.
A: It is the least suitable for making vests for motorists as it
will not reflect light from a far distance and on-coming vehicles
will not be able to see the motorists who travel at night.