Year 8 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 1
Apply Worksheet
Learning Goals
True or False? Fix the false ones
Circle T or F for each statement. If the statement is false, rewrite it correctly on the line below.
A subjective observation can be used as scientific data as long as it is written down carefully.
Correct it:
Secondary data from a peer-reviewed journal is always less valid than primary data collected by a student.
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A scientific claim must be testable — it should be possible to design an experiment to check whether it is true or false.
Correct it:
Qualitative data always includes numbers and units.
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Scenario
A Year 8 student, Anika, says: "My plant grew faster with Mozart music playing. I put it next to my speaker for two weeks and it shot up — I could tell it was happier." Her teacher asks her to evaluate whether this is a scientific claim.
(a) Is Anika's statement a scientific claim? What would need to change to make it one?
(b) What data would need to be collected to properly test whether music affects plant growth? Name at least two specific measurements.
(c) What is the difference between Anika's personal observation ("it shot up — I could tell it was happier") and proper scientific evidence?
1. A scientist at the Bureau of Meteorology records "the wind felt very strong today." Explain why this is NOT scientific data and suggest a better way to record this observation.
2. A student finds a news article claiming "scientists prove coffee improves memory." What questions would you ask to decide if this is backed by genuine scientific data?
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?