Science

Experiments and variables

An AR classroom game for Grade 5. Learners can aim with their hands at the camera or play by tapping the screen.

This set has 6 questions in an interactive multiple choice activity.

Play Host a classroom

A look before you play

Sample questions

A few real prompts from the game to help you choose an activity for your class.

01
In an experiment growing beans with different amounts of water, what is the independent variable?
- the amount of water
- the height of the plant
- the type of soil
Read the explanation
The independent variable is what you deliberately change - here, the amount of water.
02
In an experiment growing beans with different amounts of water, what is the dependent variable?
- the size of the pot
- the height of the plant
- the amount of water given
Read the explanation
The dependent variable is the result you measure - here, the height of the bean plant.
03
What is a controlled variable?
- what we deliberately change
- the result measured in the experiment
- what is kept the same in every set
Read the explanation
A controlled variable is what you keep the same in every set, so it cannot affect the result.

Before you play

Game teaching guide

What children will practise

Identifies independent, dependent and controlled variables in a bean-growing experiment, the role of a control set, and recording and concluding from real data. These are science process skills used in every unit, with no single content indicator.

What's in the worksheet

6 questions, multiple choice with three options each - Growing beans with different water: the independent variable is the amount of water, the dependent is plant height - A controlled variable is what is kept the same in every set - A control set is there to compare results against - Record numbers with units and times; base conclusions on the data actually collected

How to use it in class

Use it before starting a bean-growing or other variable-based experiment, about 5-6 minutes, solo. After question 3, have the class list at least three controlled variables for the bean experiment, such as soil type, pot size and light. After question 5, build the real results table with units and dates. You can link it to a class and record it in the gradebook.

Common sticking points

- Question 2: choosing the amount of water given, having just used that word in question 1, mixing up independent and dependent. Ask: what did we change, and what did we measure? - Question 1: choosing the type of soil because soil matters too. Point out that soil must be the same here, so it is a controlled variable. - Question 4: choosing to replace the test set if it goes wrong, not seeing what the control is compared with.