Year 6 Investigative skills worksheets
Similarities in families
When we have children, we pass on our genes to them. This is why you may look like your mum or dad, or you may be good at something (or not good at something!), just like them. Draw portraits of yourself, your mum and your dad. Do you share any physical characteristics? Can you give examples of how you are similar to your parents in behaviour or ability?
Researching vertebrates
Vertebrates can be divided into five groups. Can you research each group and give examples of animals in that group?
Research Mary Anning
Mary Anning was born in 1799. She is famous because of her fossil discoveries and the important contribution they made to the scientific study of prehistoric life. See if you can find the answers to these questions by researching her life on the internet or in your library.
Prehistory timeline
Did you know that dinosaurs lived on Earth for roughly 200 million years, whereas we humans have only existed for 200,000 years?! Look at this timeline. Can you do some research on the kinds of dinosaurs that were around during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods? Find out what our planet was like then and what other animals were around.
How light helps us to see
We see an object because light shines onto it and is reflected back into our eye. When it gets dark this evening, try this activity to prove the theory.
How does distance of an object from a light source change the shadow it makes?
Time for an experiment! Let's find out how the distance of an object from a light source changes the shadow it makes.
Darwin and evolution
Have you heard about Darwin's theories on evolution? Have a look on the internet or in your local library. Can you find any examples of species evolving over time? Record your research.
Micro-organisms investigation
This investigation will help you find out which conditions will encourage micro-organisms such as mould to grow.
How fast do you breathe?
We breathe all of the time. Breathing is vital to ensure that oxygen is taken into our bodies and harmful carbon dioxide is taken out of our body… but how fast do we breathe? When does this change? Why? Complete the table and see if this helps you to answer these questions.
Fatty foods investigation
Ask an adult to help you select different foods that you think may contain more fat than others. Carefully rub each food in turn in one of the circles. Label each circle so that you can see which food was in which circle. Leave the paper to dry. When dry hold it up to the light. You should be able to see which foods contained more oil and fat as this will be left on the paper!
Super scientist quiz
Quiz questions to encourage your child to think about how scientists work and why they do the things they do.
Reaching conclusions
A worksheet showing results of an experiment with questions underneath to consider.
Using technology in science
A worksheet encouraging children to think about the technology used by scientists in particular areas of science.
Predictions and conclusions: keeping healthy
A worksheet with predictions for an experiment into heart rates to test children on their investigative skills.
Repeating experiments
This worksheet shows the results of somebody who has measured their heart rate. It gives questions to prompt children to use their investigative skills.
Develop questioning skills - traffic survey
A worksheet to prompt children to carry out their own traffic survey and consider the answers collected.
Dissolving solids in hot water
This experiment helps children to see clearly how some solids dissolve in hot water and some solids do not.
How fast do solids dissolve?
This activity encourages children to investigate at home which factors will make a difference to how fast a solid dissolves.
Micro-organisms: experiments with yeast
This activity gives a clear insight into the effect of mixing sugar with yeast in order to produce a gas.