Testable questions for Fair Test Scramble
The following table suggests questions for investigation to kick off the fair test scramble with answers
Testable questions Answers
Change
How does the temperature of the water affect the time it takes the sugar to dissolve?
How does the height of the ramp affect the distance the car travels?
Temperature of water
The height of the ramp
Measure or observe
Time sugar takes to dissolve
Distance car travels
Length of shadow
Keep the same to make it fair
Volume of water
Mass of sugar
Number of stirs
Type of sugar
Type of car
Surface of floor
Surface of ramp
Place where car was released
Height of object Does the distance between the object and the light make a difference to the length of the shadow?
Which shape of plasticine lump falls slowest down the tube of liquid?
Does changing the volume of water make a difference to the time the sugar takes to dissolve?
Does changing the height of the object make a difference to the length of the shadow?
Which travels the furthest distance?
Distance between object and light
Shape of plasticine lump
Volume of water
Height of object
Type of car
Time for plasticine lump to fall down tube
Time sugar takes to dissolve
Length of shadow
Distance car travels
Length of tube
Type of liquid in tube
Temperature of water
Mass of sugar
Number of stirs
Type of sugar
Distance between object and light
In which liquid does the lump of plasticine take most time to fall through the tube?
Type of liquid in tube
Time for plasticine lump to fall down tube
Height of ramp
Surface of floor
Surface of ramp
Place where car was released
Shape of plasticine lump
Length of tube
Revision Activities for Scientific Enquiry Questions in End KS2 Tests
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Fair Test Scramble Factor Cards.
Temperature of water
Volume of water
Time sugar takes to dissolve
Mass of sugar
Number of stirs
The height of the ramp
Type of car
Surface of ramp
Distance between object and light
Height of object
Type of sugar
Distance car travels
Surface of floor
Place where car was released
Length of shadow
Shape of plasticine lump
Time for plasticine lump to fall down tube
Type of liquid in tube
Length of tube
Other questions and additional factor cards can be made up as required.
Fair Test Scramble: Picture support to use with the Factor cards

Dissolving sugar Water resistance
Cars down ramps Light source and shadow size

Carrying out the Splat activity – Fair Test Scramble
You have all you need for this Splat activity, apart from three notices to post up around the classroom so that they can easily be seen by the whole of the class.
One with the word ‘Change’, on it, one saying ‘Measure or Observe’ and finally one for ‘Keep the same to make it fair. Each group will also need blu tac so they can splat their factor cards under the notices as they make their choices.
The teacher reads out one of the testable questions from the answer sheet and asks for the groups to choose the factor card(s) which would be splatte d under ’Change’ for that question. When the teacher decides that the groups are ready, one child from each group moves across the room to splat their answer. Next time the teacher may want the factor for Measure or observe that corresponds to the testable question that they read out and so on.
When children are doing this activity for the first time they may need quite a lot of support to understand how the structure of the question tells them which factor must be changed. Having the question written down for them as well as reading it out aloud a number of times will also help. Think about running through all the factors which could be changed with the class, as if you were a child trying to work out the answer too!
Using a collaborative planning board
The planning boards on the next three pages should be printed off onto card and laminated so that they can withstand constant use in the classroom. One set of planning boards will be required for each group. The post it notes that are most easily used with the boards are the small size 50mm by 38mm. Choosing a post it of a different colour for children to use for the ‘We will measure or observe’ factor will also help secure their understanding.
To keep the lesson pace and to introduce some fun, groups can be challenged to see if they can be the first to complete their planning board with their post it notes in place and hold it above their heads! Testable questions can be given to the groups and they have to decide on the factors involved. Ultimately groups should be able to discuss and agree what they want to change, to find out for themselves which factors affect the scientific processes that are being investigated by the class in their science topic. Take evaporation for example. The whole class have seen how water left in a dish on the shelf by the classroom window has completely evaporated by the end of the week. One group may decide to change whether the window is open or closed. Another group may decide to control the sunlight shining on the water.
They complete their planning board and then work on phrasing their testable question.
Does having the window open or closed affect how quickly the water evaporates?
Does sunlight affect how quickly water evaporates?
One important point about improving children’s ability to record factors for themselves is the need to be very specific about each factor and to record it in sufficient detail. To simply record the fact that ‘water’ is the factor to be changed is not sufficient. Is it the type of water? Is it the volume of water? Is it the temperature of the water? The Splat activity Fair Test Scramble can be used to reinforce this point. Regular discussions in the classroom about how confusing and misleading it can be when factors are not defined in sufficient detail will also help.

Carrying out a fair test, where we change one factor, measure or observe the effect it has on something else whilst keeping all other factors the same e.g. which type of paper absorbs most water.
5a Keeping Healthy
Which exercise affects pulse rates the most?
Which becomes fatigued faster - dominant or non-dominant arm/leg?
What forms of relaxation can slow down our resting heart rate?
How should we store and prepare our rice crispies to get the best ‘snap, crackle and pop?
Which type of biscuit is the best for dunking into a hot drink?
Are some makes of waterproof plaster more effective than others?
Are different makes of pan scourer equally effective?
Are some washing up liquids better at removing grease than others?
Are some makes of soap more effective at cleansing than others?
5b Life Cycles
What do seeds require in order to germinate?
How is seed germination affected by size/ soaking/ light/ temperature/ motion
/fertiliser/pollutants?
What is the best seed design for effective wind dispersal?
What are the possible factors which affect the rate at which frogspawn develops in the classroom compared to the pond?
What are the possible factors which affect the rate at which maggots change into pupae?
5c Gases Around Us
How do sugar/ yeast/ temperature affect fermentation rate of juice?
How does the brand of washing up liquid affect the size of bubbles?
Do different soils have different amounts of air in them?
Which brand of antacids/effervescent tablets produces bubbles for the longest?
Do all brands of sparkling water have the same amount of fizz?
What factors affect the time a candle burns for when placed under a glass jar?
What factors affect the rising time of yeast dough?
What factors affect the amount of gas produced when vinegar is added to baking powder?
Does the colour of a balloon make a difference to how the air trapped inside is affected by temperature?
How does the type of balloon which is used affect the performance of a jet propelled straw – balloon rocket along a string course?
How does the type of lid used affect the performance of a balloon hovercraft?
How does the length of tubing between two syringes affect performance as a pneumatic linkage?
5d Changing State
How is evaporation of a liquid affected by size of container/ viscosity/ moving air/ additives/ temperature?
What makes a good day for drying clothes?
What factors affect the process of evaporation?
Do all liquids evaporate completely?
How is boiling time of water affected by adding salt?
How is the freezing point of water affected by adding salt?

5e Earth, Sun and Moon
How is the size of shadow affected by the size of object/relative distances between light source, object and shadow /brightness of light source?
How does the length of string alter the number of orbits the ball on the end makes?
How does the angle that light from the Sun (angle poise lamp) falls on the Earth affect the temperature at the surface (sand tray)?
How does the size and mass of meteorites (balls) affect the size of the crater they make on the planet surface (sand tray)?
If the Earth (globe) was further away from the Sun (lamp) would it make a difference to the temperature on the Earth?
5f Changing Sounds
How is the volume of a bell affected by the surface it is on?
What material conducts sound the best?
What material is the most effective sound insulator?
How does pitch affect the volume/distance a sound can be heard from?
How does type of string on home made guitar affect pitch/volume?
How does the height a marble is dropped from affect the volume of sound it makes?
How does the size of a block of wood/amount of water in a bottle affect the volume of sound produced when struck?
Which material is best for soundproofing?
What affects the note of a string or wind instrument?
What affects the loudness of the sound from a stringed or wind instrument?
6a Interdependence and Adaptation
What is the best seed shape for water or wind dispersal?
How does soil type effect root shape?
How does a lack of light affect plant growth?
How much fertilizer does a plant require for maximum growth?
What habitat conditions do woodlice prefer?
6b Micro-organisms
How does temperature affect rising time of dough/fermentation time of juice?
How does amount of yeast affect the rising time of dough?
How does the amount of sugar affect the fermentation time of juice?
What factors affect the speed or type of decay of food?
What factors affect the temperature inside a compost heap?
6c More about Dissolving
What makes a powder dissolve quickly?
What factors affect how much or how quickly sugar dissolves in water?
How does temperature affect dissolving time of salt/sugar in water/vinegar?
How does temperature affect the amount of salt that will dissolve in a liquid?
Which liquid dissolves antacid tablets quickest?
How does size of antacid tablet affect dissolving time?
6d Reversible and irreversible changes
What factors affect the time a candle burns for?
What factors cause iron to rust?
What effect will lubrication have on rust prevention?
How is size of baked biscuits affected by substituting butter for shortening?
How is crystal growth affected by light/ temperature/ acidity?

6e Forces in Action
How does type of material/weight added/shape/ making holes affect the falling time of a parachute?
How does moving the fulcrum on a lever affect the force needed to move an object?
What factors affect the sag of a simple beam bridge?
What affects the time of the swing of a pendulum?
What affects the height bounced by a ball?
What features of a parachute affect the time it falls for?
How does the shape of a boat affect its speed through water?
What factors affect the time for a helicopter 'spinner' to fall?
What affects the time for different Plasticine shapes to sink in water?
What type of surface has more friction?
What makes objects move at different speeds?
How high does a tennis ball bounce on different surfaces?
How does the height of the drop affect the height of the bounce?
6f How we see things
Does the colour of writing affect how far away it can be seen?
What colour of writing can be seen best in the dark?
Does music affect how well we see?
How much more can a person see (peripheral vision) with two eyes than with one?
What effect does light have on us seeing objects and colour?
6g Changing Circuits
How does a knot in a wire affect amps/brightness?
How does the number of wires affect brightness?
How does thickness of wire affect brightness?
How does length of wire affect brightness?
What factors affect the strength of an electromagnet?
How does the number of batteries/bulbs affect bulb brightness?
What types or length of wire gives the best speed control for an electric motor?