Drawing conclusions from evidence (age 9+)
Report and present findings including conclusions, causal relationships, explanations, and a degree of trust in results using oral and written forms
What a learner can do afterwards
- Present findings clearly in written and oral form with appropriate scientific vocabulary
- Identify causal relationships (X caused Y because...) supported by evidence
- Discuss the degree of trust in results, considering sample size, repeat readings, and possible errors
The lesson
After you finish an experiment, you write up what you found. This is called a conclusion. A strong conclusion says what happened, what caused it, and how sure you are about it.
Zara gave some seeds more water than others. The seeds with more water sprouted first. She wrote: 'More water caused the seeds to sprout faster, because the extra water helped them start growing sooner.' She named the cause, the effect, and the evidence that links them.
Testing just one plant does not tell you much. Testing many plants, and repeating the test, helps you trust your results more. Always think about what might have gone wrong, like a bent ruler or a shady windowsill.
A strong conclusion states what caused what, backs it up with evidence, and says how much you trust the result.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.