Skip to main content
Think Science! Science Inquiry Skills

Think Science! encourages students, in small teams of 2 - 4 individuals, to conduct a first-hand science investigation on a topic of their choosing. Students will document how they followed all steps of the Science Inquiry strand of the Australian Curriculum outlined below, and submit a short video, 3 - 4 minutes long for primary students and 4 - 5 minutes long for secondary students, to ANSTO which summarises their investigation.

Questioning and Predicting

Questioning and Predicting

Good science always starts with a question.

  • What question do you want your investigation to answer?

Then think about your question and think about what might happen in your investigation.

  • What do you think will happen and why?
Planning and Conducting

Planning and Conducting

You have your question - now it's time to plan and conduct your investigation. Investigations take time.

  • How will you test your prediction and achieve a fair test?
  • What materials and equipment will you need?
  • How will you do your investigation safely?
  • What observations and measurements will you make and record?

 

Processing and Analysing

Processing, Modelling and Analysing

You have completed your investigation and recorded your results.

  • How will you organise and process your data?
  • What will you use to help identify any relationships and patterns?
Evaluating

Evaluating

Scientists think about their investigations and their results.

  • How do your findings compare with those of others?
  • Was your investigation fair?
  • What were possible sources of error?
  • What questions for further investigation can you identify?
  • What are your conclusions from your investigation?

 

Communicating results

Communicating

Communicate how you worked scientifically. Show us your investigation.

  • How will you create your video entry?
  • What techniques and software will you use?
  • How will you demonstrate each Science Inquiry skill in you video?
  • How will you communicate your procedure and findings clearly?

For further information view the Australian Curriculum: Science 

Australian Curriculum: Science v9, 2022

Do you have a question?

Don't hesitate to contact the ANSTO Think Science! Team if you have any questions about the Think Science! event.

The ANSTO Think Science! Team 

Program Creator and LeaderProgram Creator and CoordinatorSecondary Education AdvisorSecondary Education Advisor
Stephanie McCready BAppSc (Hons) PhDKim Whitbread BSc BA Dip TeachJulie Mulholland BSc (Hons) Dip EdSarah Tyler BSc Dip Ed