Scientific Inquiry

Asking questions, testing fairly and working like a scientist — 30 skills across 9 years. Every skill below shows what it builds on and how to tell your child has it.

Science30 skillsages 5–14

Grouped by the age children typically start each skill. Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace.

Around age 5

Asking scientific questionsages 5–8AC ✓ Comparing Design Solutionsages 5–8 Modelling with Sketchesages 5–8AC ✓ Observing with simple equipmentages 5–7AC ✓ Recording Dataages 5–7AC ✓ Simple tests and experimentsages 5–7AC ✓

Around age 6

Changing Your Mind with Evidenceages 6–8AC ✓ Observation vs Interpretationages 6–7AC ✓

Around age 7

Classifying living thingsages 7–9AC ✓ Could there be another explanation?ages 7–9AC ✓ Drawing conclusions from evidenceages 7–9AC ✓ Fair testingages 7–9AC ✓ Measuring accuratelyages 7–9AC ✓ Using evidence to answer questionsages 7–9AC ✓

Around age 8

Comparing Possible Solutionsages 8–11AC ✓ Correlation vs Causationages 8–10 Fair testing (age 8+)ages 8–11AC ✓ Simple Design Problemsages 8–11

Around age 9

Accurate Measurementages 9–11AC ✓ Classifying living things (age 9+)ages 9–11AC ✓ Controlling variablesages 9–11AC ✓ Drawing conclusions from evidence (age 9+)ages 9–11AC ✓ Evidence Supporting Ideasages 9–11AC ✓ Fair testing (age 9+)ages 9–11AC ✓ Science Can Be Revisedages 9–11AC ✓

Around age 11

Controlling variables (age 11+)ages 11–12 Repeated tests for reliabilityages 11–12AC ✓

Around age 12

Drawing conclusions from evidence (age 12+)ages 12–13 Tables, charts, and graphsages 12–13

Around age 13

Writing Science Reportsages 13–14

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