Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Scientific Method Planner: Free Printable Planner for Year 9
- ForYear 9
- StageKey Stage 3
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Scientific Method Planner is a free printable planner for Year 9 (ages 13 to 14), in Key Stage 3. Students plan a fair test on paper. They name the question, make a prediction, sort out the variables and write a method. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch task and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the student and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a planning table with two columns, Step and My plan. Students use it to plan a fair test on paper. They name the question, write a prediction, pick out the variables and set out a method. They decide what to change, what to measure and what to keep the same. Nothing is carried out on the sheet itself. It is about thinking the test through before any practical work begins.
- Step
- My plan
Planning a fair test, step by step
Ask a clear question
A good question can be tested and answered with a measurement. Name the thing you will change and the thing you will measure. Vague questions lead to vague plans.
Make a prediction
A prediction says what you think will happen and why. It can turn out to be wrong. That is fine, because a wrong prediction still teaches you something.
Sort the variables
Choose one variable to change. Choose one to measure. List everything else that could affect the result and decide how each one will be kept the same.
Write the method
Set out what you will do in order, so another person could follow it. Include what equipment you need, what you will measure and how many times you will repeat it.
Why planning matters in science
Scientists plan before they test. A plan makes sure the results can be trusted. If more than one thing changes at once, there is no way to know which one caused the result. A fair test changes one variable on purpose and keeps the others the same. This idea sits behind much of the practical work students meet in Key Stage 3 science.
In Key Stage 3, students move from following a method to designing one. That is harder than it sounds. They must think about what could go wrong, what to measure and how to record it. Writing the plan first, and checking it with a teacher, helps students spot gaps early. It also makes any later practical work calmer and more focused.
This sheet is for planning on paper only. Check every plan with a teacher before any practical work. Heating, hot water, chemicals, knives and kitchen equipment are for adults or trained staff to handle. Adults do the dangerous part, and students should not carry it out.
Skills and curriculum link
- Planning an investigation
- Identifying variables
- Fair testing
- Making predictions
- Writing a clear method
Ideas that help with planning
- Changing one thingIn a fair test only one variable is changed on purpose. If two things change together, you cannot tell which one made the difference.
- Keeping things the sameEverything else that might affect the result needs to be controlled. Listing these out loud before writing them down can help.
- RepeatingRepeating a test and comparing the results makes a conclusion more reliable. One result on its own can be a fluke.
- Odd resultsIf one result does not fit the pattern, look at how it was measured before deciding what to do with it.
Key words
- Independent variableThe one thing you change on purpose in a test.
- Dependent variableThe thing you measure to see what effect the change had.
- Control variableSomething you keep the same so the test stays fair.
- PredictionA statement of what you think will happen, with a reason.
- Fair testA test where only one variable is changed and the others are kept the same.
- AnomalyA result that does not fit the pattern of the others.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the student. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the table together. Talk about what each step is asking before anything is written.
- Let the student fill in each row in turn, in pencil. They can cross out and improve as they go.
- Check the plan against the notes and answers on page 2. Ask why each variable was chosen. The reasons matter as much as the answers.
- Check the plan with a teacher before any practical work. Come back another day to plan a different question.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with a simple question such as does sugar dissolve faster in warm water. Fill in one row at a time. Say aloud what will change, what will be measured and what must stay the same, then write each one down.
To stretch confident children
Ask the student to say how many repeats are needed and why. Then ask how they would spot an anomaly in their results and what they would do about it. They can add these ideas to the bottom of their plan.
Make it a game
Swap plans with a partner. Each player reads the other's plan and hunts for variables that are not controlled. Score a point for every gap found. Then swap back and fix your own plan. The player with fewer gaps wins.
Talk about it
- What is the question you want to answer, and can you actually measure it?
- Why did you choose that variable to change?
- What else could affect your result? How will you keep it the same?
- What do you think will happen, and what makes you think so?
- How would you know if one of your results was odd?
- What would you change about your plan if you had to do it again?
Take it off the page
Paper aeroplane plan
Plan a fair test to compare two paper aeroplane designs on paper. Decide what to change, what to measure and what to keep the same, such as the paper and the way it is thrown.
Spot the unfair test
Choose a claim from an advert or a packet, such as a product that works best. Talk about how you would test it fairly and which variables would need controlling.
Plan a bounce test
Plan how to compare how high two different balls bounce. Write the method, say how many times you would repeat it and sketch a table for the results.
Who it is for
Parents
You do not need to be a scientist. Read the table, sit with your teenager for the first go and ask them to explain each choice. Praise clear thinking and good questions, not only neat writing.
Teachers
Use it as a starter before a practical, a plenary, an early finisher task or homework. Students can swap plans for peer checking. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider science plan. It pairs well with books, documentaries and everyday questions. Reuse it for another child, or plan a new question for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in science learning
Before this, students have met simple investigations in earlier years and in Key Stage 3. They have already learned to make observations, take measurements and record results in tables. Planning is the next step, because it asks students to design the test rather than follow one.
After this, students carry out their plans with teacher approval, then analyse results and evaluate how reliable they were. These working scientifically skills carry on into Key Stage 4 science, where students plan, carry out and judge investigations in more depth.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Scientific Method Planner for?
It is written for Year 9 (ages 13 to 14), in Key Stage 3. It can also help younger students who are ready for it, or older students who want a quick refresher on planning a fair test.
- What will students practise?
Students practise planning a fair test. They name the question, make a prediction, identify the variables and write a method. These are working scientifically skills that support practical work across biology, chemistry and physics.
- Does the sheet involve doing the experiment?
No. It is a planning sheet, done on paper. Students should check their plan with a teacher before carrying out any practical work. Anything involving heat, chemicals or sharp tools is for adults or trained staff to handle.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Start with a simple question and fill in one row at a time. Ask them to say what will change, what will be measured and what must stay the same. Page 2 has more help ideas.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision, and use it with a whole class if you wish.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 supports mixed ability groups.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Students only need a pencil, so it is also a good screen free activity for quiet time, rainy days or school holidays.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.