Skill companion: Planning a Fair Test (Year 7) -- reusable science scaffolds

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Skill companion · Year 7 Scienceseegongsik /au

Planning a Fair Test: a skill companion

Reusable sheets that grow one science skill: practise the skill in Planning a Fair Test. Print once and slot into the science topics you already teach.

AC9S7I02

plan and conduct reproducible investigations to answer questions and test hypotheses, including identifying variables and assumptions and, as appropriate, recognising and managing risks, considering ethical issues and recognising key considerations regarding heritage sites and artefacts on Country/Place

Start here

Read the pairing map.
Print scaffolds 1 and 2 when a lesson needs this skill.
Cut out scaffold 3 once; reuse all year.
Open the interactive unit for a worked example.
Run the mini-lesson first if you want the skill on its own.

On the board

On-screen moves include: “Make the plant test fair”, “Plan the safety and repeats”, “Judge the plan against fair-test rules”, “Average seedling height after two weeks”.

seegongsik.com/au/y7/inquiry/AC9S7I02

Aligned to Australian Curriculum V9 (AC9S7I02). Original material from seegongsik. Descriptors (c) ACARA, CC BY 4.0.

Where the skill fitsPairing map

Slot the skill into your science lessons

Fold this skill into Year 7 Understanding units.

When you teach	Pattern or need	Prompt	Scaffold
Classifying Living Things (AC9S7U01)	A pattern or need in this unit	How does practise help here?	Scaffold 1 then 2
Energy Flow in Ecosystems (AC9S7U02)	A pattern or need in this unit	How does practise help here?	Scaffold 1 then 2
Earth, Sun and Moon (AC9S7U03)	A pattern or need in this unit	How does practise help here?	Scaffold 1 then 2
Balanced and Unbalanced Forces (AC9S7U04)	A pattern or need in this unit	How does practise help here?	Scaffold 1 then 2
The Particle Model of Matter (AC9S7U05)	A pattern or need in this unit	How does practise help here?	Scaffold 1 then 2
Pure Substances and Mixtures (AC9S7U06)	A pattern or need in this unit	How does practise help here?	Scaffold 1 then 2

On-screen pictures

“Make the plant test fair”.
“Plan the safety and repeats”.
“Judge the plan against fair-test rules”.
“Average seedling height after two weeks”.

Scaffold 1 · PlannerOne per child

Skill planner

NameClassDate

Use this whenever you practise: practise the skill in Planning a Fair Test.

What I notice or need

My plan or question

What I will keep the same / measure / say

Teacher note: collect one strong example for the word wall.

Scaffold 2 · Record frameOne per child

Before and after

NameClassDate

Before

Draw it

After

Did it work as I thought?Yes □ Nearly □ No □

Scaffold 3 · Sort cardsReuse all year

Sort the cards

Cut out. Sort into yes / no piles and justify why.

Can we test a question about planning a fair test?

Which colour is the prettiest?

Does changing one variable keep a test fair?

Is a rainbow happy?

Should we record units with every number?

Can we ignore data that surprises us?

Does a table help us see a pattern?

Is louder always more scientific?

Can two groups compare results fairly?

Answer key is on the answers sheet.

Mini-lesson · Teacher planAbout 30 minutes

Planning a Fair Test clinic

Teach the skill on its own before folding it into a science topic. About 30 minutes.

We are learning to

practise the skill in Planning a Fair Test,
use the pack scaffolds with a real science example,

Success criteria

I can use one scaffold without copying a friend.
I can explain the skill in one short sentence.

Lesson flow

5 min	Hook Ask: “What skill are we practising today?”
10 min	Card sort Tables sort scaffold 3 cards.
10 min	Write Scaffold 1 then scaffold 2.
5 min	Exit Ask: “Finish: Today I learned to...”

On the board

Use “Make the plant test fair” as the lead picture.

seegongsik.com/au/y7/inquiry/AC9S7I02

See answers sheet for card keys.

Answers · For the teacherModel responses

Answers and look-fors

Scaffold 3 cards

Card	Fit?	Why
Can we test a question about planning a fair test?	Yes	If we can watch or measure, yes.
Which colour is the prettiest?	No	Prettiest is an opinion.
Does changing one variable keep a test fair?	Yes	Fair tests change only one thing.
Is a rainbow happy?	No	Feelings are not measurable here.
Should we record units with every number?	Yes	Units make records clear.
Can we ignore data that surprises us?	No	Surprises need a second look.
Does a table help us see a pattern?	Yes	Tables organise counts.
Is louder always more scientific?	No	Evidence matters, not volume.
Can two groups compare results fairly?	Yes	If methods match, yes.

Model exit: Today I learned to practise the skill in Planning a Fair Test.

Pair with the Understanding unit you folded the skill into that week.