1. Sutherland High School
Natural Science Grade
Good scientific practices

2. DRAWING ACCURATE SCIENTIFIC DIAGRAMS
Use a very sharp lead pencil, or even better: a clutch pencil.
Diagrams should be life-sized or occupy of the page.
We do not shade at all in scientific diagrams.
Write a heading at the top of your diagram and underline it.
Draw a simple diagram of that which you are asked to draw. DO NOT SKETCH lines.
Labelling the diagram:
Straight horizontal lines (no arrow lines) on ONLY one side of your diagram.
Lines should not overlap.
b. Labels should be in lowercase print (not cursive).
c. Labels should be written vertically below each other.

3. Incorrect drawing habits
INCORRECT LABELLING
SKETCHING
OVERLAPPING

4. Discuss the inaccuracy in this scientific diagram
Classwork:
Discuss the inaccuracy in this scientific diagram

5. WORKSHEET: Labelling Diagrams
HOMEWORK

6. MEASUREMENT Length Time Mass CONVERSIONS UNITS TYPE UNIT Length
1km = 1000m
1m = 100cm
1cm = 10mm
TYPE
UNIT
Length
Meter, m
Mass
Kilogram, kg
Volume
Litre, l
Time
Second, s
Time
1 day = 24 hours
1 hour = 60 min
1 min = 60secs
Mass
1kg = 1000g

7. Graphs
TYPES

8. CHARACTORISTICS Equal spacing Heading must have: Type of graph
Independent and Dependant variable (x axis and y axis heading)
Equal spacing

9. WORKSHEET: Drawing Graphs
HOMEWORK

10. IN THE LABORATORY…
LAYOUT

11. IN THE LABORATORY…
GLASSWARE

12. IN THE LABORATORY…
OTHER APPARTATUS

13. IN THE LABORATORY…
SAFETY

14. IN THE LABORATORY…
THE REPORT
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

15. AIM
2. HYPOTHESIS
3. INVESTIGATIVE QUESTION
4. APPARATUS
5. METHOD
6. RESULTS
7. INTERPRETATION
8. CONCLUSION

16. 1. AIM Why are you doing this experiment?
This is not a question. It’s a statement.

17. 2.
VARIABLES
Control – What is kept constant throughout the experiment.
Independant – what I am changing.
Dependant – what changes AS A RESULT of my change. i.e. what you are measuring.

18. 3. APPARATUS All the tools and equipment that you have used.
Also all the substances used in the experiment.

19. INVESTIGATIVE QUESTION4.
INVESTIGATIVE QUESTION
Question. ????
Must have all 3 variables
Must not have a “yes” or “no” answer.
E.g. “What is the relationship between…”

20. What you PREDICT is going to happen.5.
HYPOTHESIS
What you PREDICT is going to happen.

21. Bullet point or Numbered.6.
METHOD
Bullet point or Numbered.
NOT a paragraph!

22. Table (units must appear in the table HEADINGS)7.
RESULTS
Table (units must appear in the table HEADINGS)

23. 8. OBSERVATION What did you notice during the experiment?
It must be RELEVANT! It must bring you closer to answering your question.
What do you SEE (e.g. colour change, bubbles) SMELL etc.

24. 9. INTERPRETATION Graphs. Interpret what you have observed.
e.g. Increase, decrease…“Inversely proportional ; directly proportional.”

25. Answer your investigative question. With all your VARIABLES.
10.
CONCLUSION
Answer your investigative question.
With all your VARIABLES.