Project pages 90–91

Project task
Conducting a scientific experiment
Decide on a scientific question to investigate the
subject of colors. Plan and conduct your
experiment. Then give a presentation about it to
the class.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Introducing the topic

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Work in groups of
three. Look at the
photos and discuss
the question.

What do you know

about these people
and their work?

Marie Curie Charles Darwin Gregor Mendel

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, discuss the questions.

1 Does the color (not the flavor) of a drink affect how we taste it?
2 How could we find out the answer to this question?
3 How could we make sure our answer is true?

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Understand

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Match the words to the meanings.

data equipment fair observe measurable significant results variable

1 the aspect of an experiment that is being measured, so the aspect that changes
2 describing something that is large enough to be noticed
3 to watch, see or notice
4 the things that you need to conduct an experiment
5 another word for the results from an experiment
6 describing an experiment where only the variable changes
7 data showing a difference that is not due to chance

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, discuss the question.
• Which of these things are important when you are designing a scientific experiment?
1 Decide on the variable.
2 Decide what you’re going to measure.
3 Make sure your experiment is fun.
4 Make sure it’s a fair test.
5 Collect lots of money for the experiment.
6 Make sure it’s practical.
7 Collect enough data.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, read the project task again. Then read How to
design a scientific experiment and answer the questions on page 90.

Now discuss the questions.

1 Why is it important not to change anything except the variable?
2 Why is it important to do your experiment with as many people as possible?

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Collaborate and plan

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

You are going to read some scientific questions on the next two slides.
Before you do, complete the sentences with the correct words.

perceive beetroot pH temperature review notes fabric

1 _______ is a purple vegetable.

2 Clothes are made of _______ .
3 The acidity level of something is measured in _______ .
4 Students use _______ to study for exams.
5 _______ is how hot or cold something is.
6 People often _______ color slightly differently.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, discuss how you could plan an
experiment to answer the following question.

• Does the color of the writing in review notes affect how well
people remember them?
Think about these things:
1 What is the variable?
2 How would you change the variable?
3 How would you measure the effect of changing the variable?
4 How would you make sure the experiment is fair?
5 How many people would you test?

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, discuss the scientific questions in exercise 2 on
page 90. How could you plan experiments to answer the questions?

Remember to think about these things in each case:

1 What is the variable?
2 How would you change the variable?
3 How would you measure the effect of changing the variable?
4 How would you make sure the experiment is fair?
5 How many people would you test?

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, look at the pictures on page 91.

• Match them to the questions in exercise 2 on page 90.

Now listen to two people talking about their experiments.

• Which experiment was changed slightly?

Listen again and answer the questions in exercise 4 on page 91.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, decide on the scientific question you want
to answer. Make sure everyone agrees on the question!

Use these phrases in your discussions.

Phrases for agreeing Phrases for disagreeing

I (completely) agree with you. I’m afraid I disagree with you.
I couldn’t agree more. I (completely) disagree.
You’re (absolutely) right! I don’t think that’s right.
That’s true. That’s not always true.
You have a point there. I’m not sure about that.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, plan your experiment. Think about these things:
• What is your variable?
• How will you change the variable?
• How will you measure the effect of changing the variable?
• How will you make sure the experiment is fair?
• What equipment will you need?
• How many people will you test?
• How will you conduct your experiment?
• How will you record you results?

Decide who will conduct the experiment and who will collect the data.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Conduct your
experiment and
collect the data.

• Take some photos of

your experiment to
include in your
presentation.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Share

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, analyze your data. Consider the
following:
1 If you repeated the experiment, do you think your results would be the same? Why? / Why not?
2 Did you get the results you expected? If not, what reasons might there be?
3 What, if anything, do your results prove?
4 Is there a scientific theory that explains your results?

Use these phrases in your discussions.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Plan a presentation to report your
group’s experiment and results to the class.

• Explain the scientific question you wanted to answer and why.

• Describe your experiment.
• Explain how you made sure it was a fair test.
• Include photos of your experiment in your presentation.
• Describe your results and what they prove.
• Describe any scientific theories that explain your results.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Split your presentation into sections and
decide who will present each section.
Think about the language you will use and practice your section of the presentation.
Make sure your presentation is scientific!

Useful phrases
I’d like / I’m going to talk to you about …
Our presentation is divided into … sections.
The objective / purpose of this experiment was …
We decided / chose to …
The reason for our decision / choice was …
When designing our experiment, we …
When conducting our experiment, we …
Firstly, … / Secondly, … / Finally, …
Our results (clearly) show that …

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Present

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Give your presentation on your experiment to the class.

At the end of your presentation, answer the questions

from your classmates.

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

As you watch the presentations, complete the chart.

Scientific question The experiment The results A question to ask

to be answered the group
1

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Reflect

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

Complete the chart about your experiment.

Things that went well Things that didn’t go well Things to improve

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

In your groups, think about your project and
answer the questions.

• What did you learn about planning an experiment that could help you do
it better in the future?

• What was the most difficult thing about conducting your experiment?

• What would you do differently if you were to conduct a similar

experiment in the future?

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

As a class, discuss the questions.

• Which group’s experiment was the most scientific? Why?

• Which group’s experiment was the most interesting? Why?

• Which group’s results were the most interesting? Why?

Project pages 90-91 • Oxford Discover Futures 4

We hope you enjoyed
your project!
Acknowledgements:
123RF (Cathy Yeulet), Alamy Stock Photo (GL Archive), Shutterstock (Everett Historical, lero,
SpeedKingz). Illustration by Sharon Harmer.