Scientific Method And Inquiry: Science Terms Explained
Plain-language definitions of every scientific method and inquiry term your child meets in school, each with kid-friendly explanations, worked examples, and common mistakes to watch for.
Beaker
A beaker is a wide, straight-sided container, usually made of glass or plastic, that scientists use to hold, mix, and heat liquids during experiments.
Classify
Classify means to sort things into groups based on how they are alike, using clear rules or properties so each group makes sense and can be understood or compared.
Conclusion in science
A conclusion in science is the statement at the end of an investigation that explains what the results mean and whether they support the original idea or question, using evidence from the data collected.
Control group
A control group is the group in an experiment that does not receive the change being tested, so scientists can compare results and see if the change really made a difference.
Data table
A data table is a way of organizing scientific information into labeled rows and columns so that observations, measurements, and results are easy to read, compare, and analyze.
Dependent variable
A dependent variable is the result or outcome in an experiment that is measured to see how it changes when the scientist changes something else.
Engineering design process
The engineering design process is a step-by-step way engineers use to define a problem, imagine and build possible solutions, test them, and improve them until they work well.
Evidence
Evidence is information or data that scientists collect through observations or measurements and then use to support or challenge an idea, explanation, or conclusion.
Experiment
An experiment is a planned test where a scientist changes one thing on purpose and observes what happens, in order to answer a question or check an idea.
Graduated cylinder
A graduated cylinder is a tall, narrow container marked with measurement lines that is used in science to measure the volume (amount of space) of a liquid accurately.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a clear, testable idea that explains what you think will happen in a science investigation and why, based on what you already know or have observed.
Independent variable
An independent variable is the one factor in a science experiment that a scientist chooses to change on purpose to see how it affects something else.
Investigation
An investigation is a planned way of asking and answering questions about the natural world by collecting evidence through observations, measurements, or experiments.
Microscope
A microscope is a scientific tool that uses lenses to make very small objects look much larger, so details that cannot be seen with the naked eye become visible for careful observation and study.
Observation
An observation is information collected using the senses or measuring tools, such as sight, hearing, touch, or instruments, to describe or record what is happening in a scientific investigation.
Peer review
Peer review is the process where other experts in the same field carefully check a scientist's research before it is published, to see if the methods, data, and conclusions are trustworthy.
Phenomenon
A phenomenon is anything that happens in the natural or human-made world that we can notice, describe, and study using our senses or scientific tools.
Procedure
A procedure is the clear, ordered list of steps a scientist follows to carry out an investigation or experiment so it can be repeated the same way.
Qualitative and quantitative
Qualitative and quantitative describe two types of observations or data in science: qualitative focuses on descriptive qualities like color or texture, and quantitative focuses on measurable quantities like number, length, mass, or temperature.
Science notebook
A science notebook is a place where students record their questions, predictions, procedures, data, and conclusions so they can keep track of their science investigations over time.
Scientific law
A scientific law is a statement that describes a pattern in nature that always happens the same way under the same conditions, based on many repeated observations and experiments.
Scientific method
The scientific method is a step-by-step way of asking questions about the natural world, testing ideas with evidence, and using the results to understand or explain what is happening.
Scientific model
A scientific model is a simplified picture, diagram, object, rule, or computer program that helps explain how something in the natural world works and can be used to make predictions.
Scientific question
A scientific question is a clear, testable question about the natural world that can be answered by making observations, collecting data, or doing an investigation.
Theory
A theory is a well-tested scientific explanation that brings many observations and experiments together into one big idea about how part of the natural world works.
Thermometer
A thermometer is a tool that measures temperature, which is how hot or cold something is, and shows that measurement using a scale such as degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit.
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